TCC investigating fraudulent association membership
Some tobacco associations are alleged to be fraudulently swapping farmers’ membership to meet a 1 500 minimum membership requirement by Tobacco Control Commission (TCC), it has been established.
The dubious act has hit hard farmers under Tobacco Association of Malawi (Tama), who fail to register or transact under the country’s largest tobacco farmers’ grouping when they get to TCC since their names already appear under other associations.
The associations list the farmers without their consent.
TCC chief executive officer Bruce Munthali on Thursday confirmed that Tama lodged a complaint to TCC on fraudulent swapping of membership.
He said if investigations establish fraudulent swapping, the associations risk being deregistered.
“It is a challenge and we are investigating the matter to curb the malpractice. If an association is fraudulent, it is an act of indiscipline and TCC has powers to suspend the association,” said Munthali.
Tama head of marketing and business development Felix Thole said farmers under the association have been heavily affected by the tendency of some associations that access farmers’ numbers and illegally list them under their associations to meet a requirement of 1 500 member.
He said over 3 000 farmers have been victims of the dubious acts but he refused to disclose the names of the associations involved in such acts, citing ethical issues.
Thole said because the farmers appear under other associations, it becomes hard for them to be assisted when faced with problems, a development he said is a threat to their businesses.
“A number of associations are accessing farmers’ numbers and list them under their associations. This becomes a problem when farmers go to register and they are told that they already registered under other associations.
“To the surprise of some farmers, when they go to pay at TCC, receipts at TCC indicate strange associations, which the farmers never upheld as their associations,” said Thole.
He called on farmers who fall into the trap of the association to report the matter to TCC or Tama, saying the association is ready to offer farmers legal support if they want to sue the associations.
