Committee queries Fisp suppliers’ list
The Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development yesterday questioned reports that some companies that failed to effectively supply inputs during last year’s Farm Input Subsidy Programme (Fisp) have been awarded contracts this year.
According to a leaked document of successful bidders which The Nation has seen, at least 21 private companies have been identified and are currently being scrutinised by the Office of Director of Public Procurement (ODPP) before No Objection letters are issued.
In a telephone interview yesterday, the committee’s chairperson Joseph Chidanti-Malunga said a six-member team from his committee attended the meeting at the Smallholder Famers Fertiliser Revolving Fund of Malawi (SFFRFM) head office in Blantyre where the SFFRFM team was led by chief executive officer (CEO) Andrew Kalinde.
Chidanti-Malunga, however, refused to disclose the names of the companies the committee was not satisfied with, saying he would do so at an appropriate time.
In a separate interview, Kalinde confirmed having attended the meeting, saying some of the issues raised by the members of Parliament (MPs)—like the issuing of No Objection orders—were beyond his office’s control.
ODPP head Paul Taulo also confirmed that his office is reviewing the list of successful bidders.
He said allowable time for such an exercise is 10 working days.
