Part of the maize Malawi Government, through President Joyce Banda, got from United Arab Emirates (UAE) government to the people of Malawi, has been shared among People’s Party (PP) parliamentary aspirants, The Nation has established.
Information we have shows that Central Region PP aspirants are collecting their maize bags from Kanengo.
But head of Mudzi Transformation Trust (MTT) Macward Themba said “if there are aspirants involved, they should have been helping with transport and other logistics.”
The UAE donation through Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Foundation is meant to benefit some 7 500 “hunger-stricken families.”
On condition of anonymity, at least five aspirants confirmed getting 1 000 20kg bags of the 13 500 metric tonnes which has been given to the President’s pet project, MTT, and not the Department of Disaster Preparedness.
Themba said: “I can confirm that we are the ones managing the distribution because our mandate doesn’t look at politics. The distribution is based on the Vulnerability Assessment Committee (VAC) report,” said Themba.
One PP aspirant in Ntchisi told The Nation on Tuesday “I know that all of us will get 1 000 bags, others have already been given.”
Another from Lilongwe said: “I have already collected mine and don’t know if others are yet to.”
If all the 193 aspirants get 1 000 bags for their campaign, it means at least 3 860 000 kgs out to buy votes on behalf of PP.
Themba said distribution to the vulnerable started yesterday with Traditional Authority (T/A) Chakhumbira, Kwataine and other T/As in Ntcheu.
In her recent engagements, the President has been urging PP shadow MPs to ensure they get their share of the maize.
