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Ugly face of food scarcity

 

It is in down town Blantyre, Metro main shop on a Wednesday afternoon. He stands there, leaning against glaring empty shelves as he interacts with a shop attendant. He looks miserable and with all signs of hopelessness written all over his face.

The man, 38-year-old Chembe Maliko, a security guard in Chemusa Township, was visibly distraught when he was told there was no maize flour, for a third day running, according to him.

Maliko’s face tells a tale that Malawi is teetering on the precipice and slowly getting on its knees following serious maize shortages as noticed from absence of maize at markets, including Admarc and unavailability of maize flour in major supermarkets across the country.

No maize flour: Empty shelves in one of the supermarkets in Blantyre

Accompanying Maliko to carry home the maize flour, should he find it, was his 13-year-old daughter who stood beside and looked feeble Maliko was overhead asking the shop attendant to keep a 20-kg bag when supplies are made.

The two were seen exchanging mobile phone numbers.

Maliko said later in an interview: “My home is completely dry. I have four children; the youngest is two years old. I earn only K15 000 and it is not possible to buy a bag of maize. I reserved at least K8 000 to buy the 20-kg bag of maize flour.

“On several occasions, my wife has failed to buy maize at Admarc. I am told you have to be connected to buy the rationed maize, let alone a bag, at Admarc going for K5 500. The same bag is selling at K14 000 or above from vendors who corrupt Admarc officials to buy in large quantities at our expense.”

Maliko, who does piecework (ganyu) in Chemusa during the day, said he was afraid his family was going to face another day without food as time was running out.

He said he did not have enough money to buy the grain from vendors.

Spot checks by Nation on Sunday on Wednesday and Thursday at Shoprite, Metro and Peoples shops nationwide, showed that maize flour has equally become a rare commodity as most Malawians are opting for it, where available.

A major maize flour producer, Rab Processors Limited, has drastically reduced production due to maize scarcity, thereby failing to meet demand in the supermarkets and other outlets, according to sources.

Rab Processors were yet to respond to our questionnaire at press time in which they were asked the seriousness of the maize shortage and how this has impacted on their productivity.

Shop attendants in the supermarkets visited disclosed that there is always scramble for the maize flour when supplies are made and it finishes almost immediately.

Nation on Sunday findings revealed that scarcity of the maize flour has affected Central Region districts and other areas such as Zomba, Ntcheu, Mzuzu and Blantyre, a clear sign that things are getting out of hand.

The maize shortages in Admarc depots forced President Peter Mutharika to address the nation on Wednesday, admitting that some Malawians were starving.

Mutharika warned that his government would take drastic measures and instructed police to deal with Admarc officials he said were conniving with vendors “to steal the maize” for resell at exorbitant prices.

The President described what was happening as outrageous, criminal and moral recklessness he would not tolerate.

Ironically, Admarc chief executive officer Foster Mlumbe, while admitting the malpractice between some of his officers and vendors, insisted Admarc depots have been selling maize consistently.

“Maize is there, but I cannot give figures. If you move around here in Blantyre, say in Ndirande or Zingwangwa, you will notice that we have been selling the maize consistently for the past days,” Mulumbe said.

Our checks at Zingwangwa Admarc on Thursday showed the maize was there but there were complaints that it was being sold to vendors. Stocks given to Chilomoni were said to have finished as of Thursday afternoon.

On President’s remarks that Admarc officers were conniving with vendors, Mulumbe said the parastatal has never denied that fact.

He disclosed that earlier on Wednesday—before the President addressed the public—Limbe Police Station arrested an Admarc officer and a vendor who were allegedly caught for underhand dealings.

Limbe Police confirmed arrests of the two people.

Mulumbe said in the past, some Admarc officers have lost their jobs for issues of conniving with vendors and that Admarc does not condone the malpractice and would take action on anyone found doing that.

He said his institution was trying all it could to help the needy Malawians.

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