Woman faints while scrambling to buy maize

After queuing for hours on end on a long and meandering queue, one woman fainted as she scrambled to buy maize at Ndirande-Chinseu Admarc Depot in the early hours of today.

Reports say there was tension and disorder at the depot as buyers fought for the scarce grain. Police had to come in to maintain order.

According to an eye witness, Mercy Chinawa, the woman whose identity is not yet known was pushed by the crowd and fell to the ground.

“When we tried to get her on her feet we found that she was unconscious. We took her to the health centre [Ndirande Health Center] and now she is fine,” explained Chinawa.

Councilor for Makata Ward Cecilia Zeka Phiri who was at the scene said the depot receives at least 300 bags a day but the number of buyers has steadily been growing.

“This depot receives maize almost on a daily basis but the demand is too high. People sleep here waiting for their turn to buy maize which only lasts for few days as they are allowed to buy only 20kgs per individual,” she said.

Phiri said it was sad to note that most buyers at the depot were vendors who re-sell the maize at double the price that Admarc charges putting others at a disadvantage.

Admarc officials at the scene refused to talk to the media. They referred the media to Admarc Headquarters in Limbe.

Maize has become scarce in most parts of the country. The scarcity and high demand has led to soaring of prices of the grain. Just yesterday, a group from Thyolo petitioned President Peter Mutharika on the same. The grouping is asking the president to intervene in the situation.