APM stops maize sale
President Peter Mutharika has dismissed State-produce trader Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) plans to sell maize to Tanzania and Kenya following inquiries by the two East African countries.
Kenya and neighbouring Tanzania approached Admarc last month to buy maize from Malawi following food shortages the two countries are experiencing.
Speaking at Mulanje Mission Primary School ground when he presided over the launch of Malawi Rural Electrification Programme (Marep) 8, Mutharika said Malawi will not sell its maize stock now before knowing what lies ahead.
“It doesn’t matter whether there is pressure from anywhere. It is our maize and we are not going to sell it just like that. I don’t want what happened at one time to happen again. We once rushed to sell our maize to Kenya only to face hunger and start buying maize from Kenya again,” he said in his address monitored on Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Television.
Mutharika urged Malawians not to sell their maize to vendors but wait for Admarc to start buying at a good price.
Commenting on the launch, Mutharika said he wants to see every community centre electrified that is why under Marep Phase 8, three trading centres in each district will be get electricity.
Speaking earlier, Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining Bright Msaka said no district will be left out in the programme as each and every district will get a share depending on its size.
