Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament has stopped the disposal of K15 billion worth of excess farm inputs that Malawi Enterprise Development Fund (Medf) procured and warned against shortcuts before completion of a forensic audit.
The decision has triggered a fresh blame-game with Medf, formerly National Economic Empowerment Fund, warning that continued delays are worsening losses because seeds, fertilisers and chemicals deteriorate in warehouses nationwide.
PAC chairperson Steve Malondera, speaking after meeting Medf officials at Parliament Building in Lilongwe yesterday, said the committee blocked the disposal to protect public resources and uphold an earlier parliamentary resolution.
| Andrew Viano
He said disposing of the inputs through an auction before completion of investigations risked opening room for abuse.
Malondera said Parliament had already adopted recommendations from the Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Corporations and State Enterprises, including conducting a forensic audit to determine the way forward.
“Any attempt to act contrary to what the whole House agreed upon undermines the authority of Parliament,” he said.
But Malondera expressed concern over the slow pace of the audit.
Medf chief executive officer Kayisi Sadala painted a grim picture of mounting losses, saying delays have left some inputs completely unusable.
He said seeds have already deteriorated while chemicals and fertilisers worth billions of kwacha continue to lose value by the day.
Sadala said the full extent of the damage remains unclear because the inputs are stored in different locations nationwide.
Parliamentary Committee on Commissions, Statutory Corporations and State Enterprises chairperson Sylvester Ayuba James echoed the criticism, saying Medf created its own problems by straying from its mandate.
Medf recently flighted an advert inviting bids for the purchase of the surplus inputs, listing over 210 000 kilogrammes (kg) of assorted maize seed, 23 530kg of bean seed, chemical and liquid fertilisers, solar water pumps, irrigation systems and sprayers.
According to a Medf report on its website, the institution between April and September 2025 issued K62 billion in micro-irrigation and livestock loans, reaching 123 279 farmers, distributing 253 793 fertiliser bags, 21 125 goats and 36 740 chickens, with maize and beans planted on an estimated 187 566 acres.
