By Staff Writer:
A few hours after witnessing offloading of fertilizer under this year’s Affordable Input Program (AIP) at Smallholder Farmers Fertilizer Revolving Fund of Malawi head office in Lilongwe, Minister of Agriculture Lobin Lowe and his deputy Madalitso Kambawuwa Wirima have been fired.
The firing of the two comes amidst talks that government was duped K30 billion that was allegedly paid to a British firm to supply fertiliser for this year’s AIP.
Addressing the nation on Tuesday night, President Lazarus Chakwera announced that he has fired Lowe and his deputy for gross negligence and incompetence in the manner the two have handled this Year’s AIP.
“There are serious problems in the agricultural sector that need to be fixed as a matter of urgency, in the face of which the food security of the country has been left in grave jeopardy. Even though there is still time to resolve the problems, there is simply no way this can be done by the same careless leadership that has failed to fulfil its mandate over the sector, a sector that is the backbone of our economy and the bread basket of millions of Malawians,” said Chakwera.
The Malawi leader has since vowed to recover the 725 000 United States Dollars which the Ministry of Agriculture is reported to have illegally paid a British firm without following proper procurement procedures.
Chakwera has however dismissed reports that the Ministry paid 30 billion Kwacha to the British firm which is yet to be recovered.
“I know there is a Member of Parliament in the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture who has publicly told the country that the amount paid is 30 Billion Kwacha and that this money has been stolen’ which is simply false,” said Chakwera.
Chakwera has since appointed Sam Kawale who was Minister of Lands to head the Ministry of Agriculture with immediate effect.
Meanwhile Chakwera has hinted that he will soon be reshuffling his cabinet to relieve all under performing ministers of their duties.
Chakwera said he wants his cabinet to deliver so that his government serves Malawians who elected him as President.
“I am here to serve Malawians and I will do so no matter who tries to spread lies about me. Malawians deserve results and they elected me to deliver those results, and I will see to it that those results are delivered with or without you, because I’m not here to serve a party, or a minister I’m here to serve Malawians,” said Chakwera.
