Vendors detain AIP truck in Lilongwe

Irate vendors around Kamphata Trading Centre on the M1 in Traditional Authority (T/A) Kalumbu in Lilongwe detained a truck yesterday carrying AIP fertiliser and tried to redirect it to another market.

Lilongwe Police Station public relations officer Hastings Chigalu confirmed the development, saying the vendors disguised themselves as villagers to gain access to the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP) fertiliser.

He said: “We have arrested six of them, but we are yet to identify who they are. But they are vendors not villagers as they disguised themselves.”

Chigalu claimed vendors within the area have been dominating the purchase of AIP fertiliser and in reaction, the surrounding villages tightened security to safeguard the inputs for deserving beneficiaries.

“It is for this reason that the vendors planned to divert the truck to a different market where they hoped to get access, but they were intercepted by the police,” he said.

Chigalu said following the interception, the vendors went on a rampage and blocked the M1 and started demanding K5 000 from motorists.

“Those who failed to pay had their vehicles smashed. We have arrested six of the vendors and we will take them to court once our investigations are through,” he said.

When called for comment, Ministry of Agriculture Principal Secretary Medrina Mloza Banda said she was in the field, but the ministry will investigate the matter.

Farmers Union of Malawi (FUM) recently issued a statement outlining challenges  including poor supply of farm inputs in selling points.

FUM statement further said when markets ran out of inputs especially fertiliser it takes ages for new supply to be delivered.