Macadamia estate under siege

 Security is one of the main factors that attract investors. However, important as it is, the resource is in short supply at Sable Farming Limited in Chiradzulu.

This is in sharp contrast to what President Lazarus Chakwera has been preaching about attracting investors to Malawi. He knows their importance in terms of provision of employment and economic development.

When he opened a two-day virtual Malawi Investment Forum meeting in Johannesburg, South Africa, in May last year, the President appealed to investors to come to Malawi and work in agriculture, tourism and mining sectors, among others, promising to provide conducive environment.

“My government is creating a conducive environment for foreign investors by addressing policy, legislative and administrative framework issues that have been brought to authorities’ attention,” he said.

To show commitment and seriousness, Chakwera has established a Private Sector Council that would be directly informing him about how to make the country ideal for investment.

Sable Farming Limited in Mapanga in Blantyre invested in macadamia farming which it produces and exports thus, bringing the much-needed foreign exchange to the country.

But about a quarter of the fruit is stolen by people mainly surrounding the area. Sable Farming estates manager LastenJonasi says more worrying is the safety of the guards who are violently attacked.

He says: “Sometimes they come in large numbers, overpower our guards and steal macadamia nuts. This is frustrating considering that we employ over 3 000 people who might be affected.”

Jonasi’s other concern is that despite some people being caught and sent to police, nothing happens thereafter. The more they are not punished, the more they steal from the company, according to him.

The estates manager showed this reporter statistics indicating that as of June last year, as many as 300 people had been caught stealing macadamia nuts and sent to police for their action.

Even the Macadamia Association of Malawi is concerned with the alarming and unabated theft of macadamia nuts not only at Mapanga but in other areas as well.

An official, who asked not to be named because he says he can be harmed by what he described as ‘organised thieves’, says the problem is big, especially in farms that are located in highly populated areas.

“However, quantities of theft are harder to track, but are reported to account for 10 percent loss. As an association, [we] have received many complaints from members and we plan to take it up with the police. At present, individual farms approach the police,” he says.

Chiradzulu Police spokesperson CosmasKagulo admits receiving a number of complaints from Sable Farming Limited about the theft of macadamia nuts at its Mapanga estate.

However, he says the police are trying all they can to control the situation through arrests and checks.

He says: “This is one of the reasons we set up a roadblock at Yasin [in the district] to deal with stolen goods. We have a case where two women were caught with six bags of macadamia nuts.”

Kagulo could not explain about other cases that the company has been sending to the station from June.

“I need to find out on that, but what I can say is that the main solution to the problem is awareness. When they understand the importance of the company in terms of employing the community in the area, they will stop,” says the police spokesperson.

Those that steal macadamia nuts seem to have advanced their skills. Jonasi narrated an incident where people tricked the company to steal the nuts.

He narrates: “They set fire on one side of the farm and when guards rushed to the area to extinguish it, they found space to steal as much macadamia nuts as possible on the other side. It was a great loss to us.”

“In fact, some people use catapults to threaten guards. When we catch one, sometimes the whole village invades the company to rescue their relative.

Sable Farming general manager Kamran Mohsin is particularly concerned that other people even cut down macadamia trees for firewood.

“It takes years for a macadamia tree to grow and start producing. So, for one to cut it like that is somehow cruel. But there is nothing we can do about it,” he says.

Encroachment is another issue that is affecting Sable Farming. This journalist was shown a number of places within the estate where villagers have encroached the land and have opened gardens.

The company has a dam where it stores water for irrigation. But farmers are cultivating near it a development Mohsin said is putting the facility at risk of breaking up and flooding.

“We have talked about this to authorities and the matter is in court. I just hope nothing will happen between now and time of judgement because if it does, many people will be affected in one way or another. It is disaster in waiting,” he says.

According to a letter from Sable Farming to Chiradzulu district commissioner dated May 29 2023, the company warned of the disaster in the event of the dam flooding and called for action.

“With reference to encroachment happening around the dam in Mapanga Estate that is along Mombezi River, we wish to bring to your kind attention our concern about the integrity of the dam which is being compromised due to the illegal encroachment around it.

“The unrestricted and illegal farming being carried out blatantly and with impunity is bound to weaken the structural integrity of the dam and in time, will endanger all the communities downstream the Mombezi River if the dam wall gives way.

“Any cultivation around the dam wall invites rats and rodents and other animals that burrow into the wall. This is the single biggest danger to the wall. Using instruments below also disturbs the soil and weakens the base,” says the letter in part, signed by Mohsin.

He, however, said most people they employ are from the surrounding area and wondered why they do not understand the importance of macadamia.

Chiradzulu District Council spokesperson Henderson Kaumi acknowledges the letter, describing it as ‘an old problem that continues to be resolved’.

Kaumi, who is also director of planning and development, says much as police were informed and promised to deal with the situation, awareness and sensitisation is a better option.

“We have called chiefs through our lands office to discuss the matter. This will be in form of sensitisation and if some people will resist, police will take action.

Sable Farming environment and social officer Gloria Kasongo says some of the macadamia nuts that people steal and sell are immature and contain cyanide that has negative effect on one’s health.

On January 6 2024, Sable Farming had another shock as villagers from the surrounding area invaded the macadamia farm.

According to Kasongo, people were hired to collect macadamia nuts that fall down and as they were gathering them, the villagers pounced on the workers.

“It was a terrific scene and we went into hiding. I thought they had overrun the company. They seemed to have nothing to fear but do what they wanted,” she says.

Macadamia nuts are openly sold in Blantyre locations, such as Machinjiri . Some nuts are being sold at bus stations, mostly at Shoprite at Kamuzu Stadium.

One would expect police to act by confiscating them. However, Limbe Police Station spokesperson Aubrey Singanyama says they can only act when someone complains to the station.

He says: “We can’t do anything if we don’t have a complaint. Unless someone comes and lodges a complaint [at Limbe Police Station] about stolen macadamia nuts, there is nothing we can do.”

However, Minister of Trade SostenGwengwe says he is aware of the situation and that he has already “engaged colleagues at Homeland Security ministry”.

He admits that security is key to any investor, as such, urgent action is needed.

Says Gwengwe: “For any investor to come, security of his business is paramount. We will beef up security not only to Sable Farming, but all businesses in the country.”