The Office of the President and Cabinet has warned public officers against politicising social protection interventions, including Farm Inputs Subsidy Programme (Fisp).
The appeal by Chief Secretary to the Government Justin Saidi comes a week after Second Vice-President Enoch Chihana trended on social media over his remarks that insinuated that opposition Malawi Congress Party (MCP) members were denied access to Fisp.
“Anthu aja ali kwawo kwa amawo tsopano, akulima soya, feterezanso tawamana. [They are out of power and now growing soya beans. We have also not given them fertiliser],” he said on January 17 this year at the launch of the 2025/2026 National Forestry Season in Phalombe.
In November last year, DPP vice-president for the Central Region Alfred Gangata also came under fire for accusing unnamed people of misleading President Peter Mutharika in hiring senior public officials who never participated in the campaign.
He urged chiefs to register names of governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) members to benefit from initiatives.
But in his statement, Saidi, without specifically mentioning names, said “government has noted with serious concern” recent public statements attributed to some government officials.
In an interview yesterday, Saidi denied targeting any individuals, saying the statements were insinuating that priority in the distribution of relief items and access to Fisp should be given to those who voted for the current administration.
Saidi said if there were specific officials that made the remarks, the statement was just a general reminder for public officers to embrace the President’s vision of “One Malawi”.
“We are just reminding people to follow the vision of the President of One Malawi,” he said.
Meanwhile, commentators have hailed the government for the communication, but urged more action.
In an interview yesterday, National Advocacy Platform chairperson Benedicto Kondowe called for concrete administrative actions, including disciplinary measures against public officials who politicise government programmes.
Good governance expert George Chaima, in a separate interview, said the government’s statement was a positive step because it is a commitment by the DPP administration towards non-discrimination.
“Commitment goes together with action, practical action. We can’t say the government is not acting, by issuing the letter, that is action,” he said.
Political scientist Mabvuto Bamusi said the government has taken the right step to end the malpractice because it would act as a reference when dealing with government officials caught in the wrong.
On November 12 2025, Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Roza Fatch Mbilizi officially launched the 2025/26 Fisp in Mchinji District, targeting 1.1 million beneficiaries across the country.
Under Fisp, beneficiaries redeem two 50 kilogramme bags of fertiliser at K10 000 each instead of the market price of more than K150 000 per bag.
