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AIP draining public purse- Cdedi

Centre for Democratic and Economic Development Initiative (Cdedi) has advised the government to start saving money from the Affordable Input Programme (AIP) by slowly scaling down the number of beneficiaries and invest the money in fertiliser production.

In a statement issued today, Cdedi executive director Slyvester Namiwa observed that the subsidy programme continues to drain the public purse and that the current administration is only making political pronouncements without a clear policy direction.

Namiwa cited the inconsistencies between statements by Minister of Agriculture Robin Lowe and his boss President Lazarus Chakwera on the number of beneficiaries for this year.

Cdedi members yesterday held a meeting with Lowe in Lilongwe where the minister is said to have indicated that the ministry faces a huge task to deal with a cartel in the fertiliser business as well as a shrinking resource envelope to maintain the number of beneficiaries.

Meanwhile, Cdedi has advised Chakwera to accept the reality on the ground and act above politics.

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