KARONGA-(MaraviPost)-The Affordable Inputs Program (AIP) officers at the Chilumba depot in Karonga are being accused of demanding additional money from the beneficiaries to access the Inputs.
The number of the beneficiaries who talked with this publication on a condition of anonymity alleged that each beneficiary is told to pay K7000 or K5000 after negotiation if he or she wants to purchase the Inputs.
They alleged that after collecting their national identity cards, the officers only sold the products to those who managed to meet their demands.
According to them, those who fail to pay the extra money MK7000 or MK5000 usually go home without accessing the Inputs.
“This is like a must here. Even if the depot has enough AIP products, some beneficiaries are going back empty despite coming in the wee hours or having cash to buy it,” they alleged.
On whether they lodged their complaints to the authority, they responded, “We only informed our MP.”
MP for the area, Uchizi Mkandawire who is also the Minister of Youths and Sports while accepting to have received such reports said he referred it to the police.
Chilumba Police Officer In Charge, Mrs Bahati Kwenda said she immediately deployed her officers on the ground after being tipped by the MP.
“My boys found beneficiaries in different groups when they reached the selling point. And when they advised them not to give extra money to access the inputs, the beneficiaries were very happy. My boys also advised the officials not to demand extra money from beneficiaries,” she said.
Kwenda then asked those who paid extra money to report to her office with evidence.
Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) principal public relations officer, Egrita Ndala who said was on holiday said police are also responsible for such “criminal” matters and urged beneficiaries to report such issues to their nearest office.
But on his part, Chilumba AIP depot senior official, Covax Mkumbwa while accepting to have heard such complaints failed to explain what step his office took.
A senior official within the depot who talked with this publication anonymously questioned Mkumbwa’s attitude on this issue.
“I also talked with him after receiving complaints but he responded provocatively. It’s like he doesn’t care and has someone senior to protect him,” he said.
Meanwhile, social commentator, Jackson Msiska has questioned the police on the way they’re handling the case.
Through his organization, Msiska said will conduct a further investigation and pen ACB as well as the office of the Ombudsman to take legal action against the suspects.