The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has written a notification to the Lilongwe District Commissioner, Dr Lawford Palani on it intentions to hold vigils at Parliament building in Lilongwe aimed at forcing the August house to deliberate and pass an emergency Maize Bill.
According to a letter signed by the organisation’s Executive Director, Sylvester Namiwa, CDEDI further wants government to immediately release the National Food Reserve Agency (NFFA) maize to all Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) selling points and reduce maize minimum prices by half.
“The vigils will start this Wednesday August 9, 2023 and will run from 8 am to 1: 30 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays and 1: 30 pm to 3:00 pm on Mondays and Wednesdays while on Friday it will be from 8:30 am to 1: 30 pm.
“CDEDI is acting on behalf millions of Malawians whose survival is threatened by revelations that despite Parliament approving MK12 billon for buying maize, coupled with the changing of the government financial year to allow for the timely procurement of the staple food, the country has maize that will only last two months, if it were to be supplied nationwide.
“The maize situation in the country is a fatal disaster-in-waiting. Unfortunately, like what often happens when disaster strike, this maize crisis will mostly affect vulnerable and marginalised Malawians in both urban and rural areas, and needless loss of lives cannot be ruled out.
“Bwana DC, please take note that CDEDI is cognizant of the issues of sanitation and space at the venue of the vigils as a result measures have been put in place to ensure that the protests do not affect business at Parliament,” reads part of the letter
