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Police tighten security against subsidised fertiliser theft

Police have tightened security at roadblocks in the country in reaction to rampant theft of subsidy fertiliser that is threatening to derail government’s K40 billion Farm Input Subsidy Programme (Fisp).Southern Region Police spokesperson Nicholas Gondwa on Wednesday said the police are checking whether truck drivers’ documents are matching with quantity of fertiliser being carried. He said the police are alsomaking general searches at theroadblocks.In the Southern Regionalone, more than 10 peoplehave been arrested this weekfor allegedly being foundor carrying the subsidised fertiliser suspected to have been stolen.

Gondwa said a truck driver, Ivan Chisiye (40), an employee of Trans Nabila, was arrestedafter he allegedly diverted atruck loaded with 600 bags of fertiliser meant for Admarc depots in the Southern Region and offloaded 40 bags in Ndirande Newlines. Gondwa claimed Chisiye off loaded the bags at Chinansi Lemani’s house. Police, he said, arrested bothof them after a tip-off. In another incident, Gondwa said a driver and his assistant disappeared with 300 bags they loaded on November 14 to deliver at Songani depot in Zomba. At Sigelege Admarc in Blantyre, Gondwa said, they arrested three Admarc employees, a clerk Ida Zulu,

24, Risword Willard, 40, and Dailesi Saidi, 33, both security guards.

He claimed the three suspects were mentioned by two others who werefound with bags of fertilisersuspected to have been stolen.Police alleged that theyrecovered more bags offertiliser in the homes of the three.

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