……Argues thats its against Chakwera’s promises to Malawians
LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s civil right Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) is calling Malawians to reject MK15,000,00 set price for this year’s Affordable Input Program (AIP) fertilizers arguing that its against what President Lazarus Chakwera and Tonse Alliance promised during campaign.
CDEDI Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa told the news conference on Thursday, November 17, 2022 that there was no serious justification from running away from initial MK4,500,00 to MK15,000.00 for 50kg of fertilizer.
Namiwa observes that Chakwera’s current stand on AIP fertilizer price is a deceit which Malawians should not accept.
He therefore dared Chakwera to stop playing hide-and-seek on availability and accessibility of fertiliser and maize in the country.
“We raise these concerns because there is all evidence that the President has departed from his campaign promise of selling a 50 Kilogramme bag of fertiliser at no more than K4,500. In fact, we have a video clip where an old woman, identifying her-self as Virginia Kalifale, is vowing to vote for Chakwera on the strength of this promise for cheap fertiliser.
To those that could not afford the MK4,500, Dr. Chakwera, actually promised free fertiliser. Now, what evidence is there that such people’s economic fortunes have improved that they can now afford to contribute K15,000 towards the Affordable Input Programme (AIP) fertiliser?”, worried Namiwa.
He added, “Today, Virginia Kalifale represents millions of Malawians who voted for Chakwera hoping to buy fertiliser at MK4,500. Such people have had a shock of their lives at hearing from the AIP task force that this year they are expected to contributed MK15,000 for their subsidised fertiliser.
“This is total betrayal given the current economic challenges facing Malawians clearly mirrored through the sky-rocketing cost of living that has made life for an average Malawian family practically difficult”.
Namiwa dares, “CDEDI is, therefore, challenging all farming communities to refuse the global economic downturn and the Ukraine war stories, which are being used by the current administration to cover up its incompetence and cluelessness.
“Elsewhere, leaders that have the welfare of their people at heart have worked out mechanisms to bail out their people. But, here, all we are hearing excuses”.
He observes further, “If the leaders are giving excuses on problems their people are facing, who, then, will give them solutions? As we stand, it is clear that Malawians are paying the price of voting into office leaders who were not up to the mark.
“From the look of things, in the coffers that President Chakwera controls there is money for anything else save for fertiliser and food for the poorest of the poor. Evidence is there that every month the President has money to travel somewhere with a bloated entourage at the expense of poor Malawians, most of whom do not know where their next meal is going to come from”.
Namiwa added, “To prove that President Chakwera does not care about the likes of Virginia Kalifale—that only need affordable fertiliser not handouts—his cronies are ready to pounce on the donated fertiliser by selling it at MK15,000 per bag.
“Where the money already budgeted for this exercise will go is anybody’s guess. Simply put, this decision has been arrived at because Malawians have accepted to be taken for granted by politician”.
He says, “As citizens, we seem to enjoy suffering in silence. Had we protested the 2021/2022 price of MK7,500 this year, matters would not have come to this point. Should we accept this price, next year the same AIP fertiliser will be at MK50,000 per bag!
“It is against this background that CDEDI is challenging President Chakwera to reverse the decision by his cronies to sell the donated fertilizer and also revise the price of the AIP fertilizer to MK7,500 before the launch of the programme slated for Saturday, November 19, 2022 in Dedza district”.
Namiwa therefore dared Chakwera to also come out clearly on the actual amount of fertilizer available in the country outside the AIP, since it appears we, as a nation, have forgotten that we also have commercial farmers.
On maize situation, Namiwa said, “The President should also explain to the nation the status of the maize situation in the country in the wake of the sky-rocketing prices of the staple food, and when the people should expect the opening of the Agriculture Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) selling points that have been tried and tested, and have proven to be the right channels for accessing both fertilizer and food across the country.
“Further, we hereby remind the President and his government that a hungry person is an angry person, therefore, any carelessness in handling the maize crisis in the country is a recipe for disaster”.
Agriculture minister Sam Kawale told Parliament that the AIP fertilizer remains at MK15,000.00 as initially communicated.
