Twists, turns in Zambia maize: K16 billion unpaid, 57% in storage
Malawi is yet to pay K16 billion for logistics and purchase of maize from Zambia amid revelations that about 58 919 metric tonnes (MT) of the consignment is yet to be distributed, it has emerged.
The maize purchase formed part of the Contingency Emergency Response Project that comprised $45 million (K77.27 billion) from the World Bank and $11.1 million (K19.20 billion) from the Malawi Government. The distribution exercise was halted in April this year.
In a written response on progress of the deal and its closure, Minister of Information and Communications Technology Shadric Namalomba said the World Bank has this far paid $42.1 million (about K72 billion) directly to Zambia’s Food Reserve Agency.
He said: “On payments to the Zambia Food Reserve Agency, $32 176 906.78 had been paid, with a balance of $3 529 147.67 at the last reported date.
“As of now, government has disbursed almost half of that government contribution to the National Local Government Finance Committee [NLGFC].”
Namalomba said 103 496.95MT was delivered from Zambia, with distribution starting on February 5 2026 and reached 650 854 affected households with 44 578MT.
He said: “Distribution was halted on 13 April 2026 because the government and the World Bank agreed that the core objectives had been achieved: responding to emergency food needs and helping to stabilise maize prices.
“The remaining maize is stored at Kanengo and will be distributed during the El Niño response period.”
Secretary for Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Erica Maganga confirmed that not all maize brought from Zambia was used and that the remainder will support hunger-related needs.
She said: “I know that not all maize from Zambia was used. NFRA [National Food Reserve Agency] is also buying maize. So, all this maize will be used as per the 2026 Malawi Vulnerability Assessment Committee food security assessment report needs, but also for El Niño.”
In a separate response, World Bank Malawi country manager Abdu Muwonge yesterday said Malawi’s Contingent Emergency Response Project (Cerp) was approved in October 2024 with the first Cerp for $45 million activated in November 2025.
He said the Cerp was triggered by a severe food insecurity crisis, which put about 500 000 households at risk of hunger and prompted a declaration of State of Disaster by the Government of Malawi on November 11 2025.
Research extension expert Leonard Chimwaza said much as a larger part of foreign currency came from the World Bank, the little that Malawi contributed cannot be overlooked.
With the impending El Niño weather phenomena, Malawi requires K488.5 billion to prepare for a possible El Niño induced dry spell in the 2026/27 season, but only K163.7 billion has been mobilised so far, leaving a funding gap of K324.8 billion.
