Tag Archives: Barkaat Foods Limited

Malawi, Politics

“Show us transaction proof of MK565.6m AIP payout not lies”- Attorney General Thabo Nyirenda dared

Ufulu

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Malawians on social media are demanding a proof of payment transaction that show that 516,000.00 Euros (about MK565.6 million) out MK750 million meant for fertilizer under the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP) was misappropriated.

The demand comes barely days after Attorney General (AG) Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda told local press on Friday, June 2, 2023 that the High Administrative Court of Bavaria based in Munich has issued a final confiscation order in respect of the 516,000.00 Euros.

Nyirenda told Times 360 that money belonging to Smallholder Farmers Fertilizer Revolving Fund of Malawi (SFFRFM) that was paid into a Fidor Bank AG account through authorized push payment fraud will be transferred back.

“The funds will be transferred from Fidor Bank AG to the Munich’s prosecutor’s account before it is transferred to Smallholder Farmers Fertilizer Revolving Fund account. And it is expected to reflect in the account by end July,” he said.

This comes barely also days after Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) in collaboration with the Concerned Citizens have suspended the vigils on security grounds.

The grouping was holding vigils at the main entrance to Capital Hill in the City of Lilongwe, seeking response from the AG Nyirenda regarding the mysterious loss of MK750 million that was meant for the purchase of fertilizer for the vulnerable Malawian farmers under the 2022/2023 AIP.

But Malawians on social media want proof of payment.

“Zabodza izi ma pepala ali kuti, angotenga ku escom ndi water board kenako akazibwezanso (This is a lie, where are papers of this payout? They have just taken Escom and Water board money then later will pay back,” Kassiyah Jekete queries.

James Mahamudu Chinthali chips in, “Pali Chikalata chilichonse chochita (Is there any documents) support what you are saying AG Nyirenda?”.

“Ine ndidzaone kaye trans ID otherwise sindikukhulupirira. Zikhonza kukhala kuti anapochera ndiwomwewa nde akufuna adzitinamiza (I will believe if transaction reference is shown to us. This can be a lie as it might be the same guys who took the money, now they want to lie to us),” doubts Nkosi Chikumbutso Chapamba.

Ministry of Agriculture had engaged SFFRFM to process the procurement for AIP.

SFFRFM identified Barkaat Foods Limited and paid MK750 million to lock the price, but after pocketing the payment, the company terminated the contract.

Since AIP MK750 million theft, President Chakwera Tonse Alliance government has not even arrested anyone.

Even, the embattled Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Director General Martha Chizuma has never said a word on this day light robbery of public funds.

corruption, Malawi

Malawi graft agency on UK’s Barkaat dubious fertilizer procurement deal

Chisomo Phiri 1 Comment
Lowe needs to explain

BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s graft-busting body, Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) plans to institute an investigation into a dubious fertilizer procurement deal involving the ministry of agriculture and a UK firm, Barkaat Foods Limited.

This follows the complaint that the bureau has received regarding the matter.

According to the bureau’s Principal Public Relations Officer Egrita Ndala,the ACB team will soon be set up to look into the matter and establish whether to proceed with legal processes.

” The Bureau has recorded a complaint. It will be reviewed as the procedure so as to ascertain if there is merit to warrant the bureau’s action according to law,” said Ndala.

On Friday October 14, 2022 Parliament also showed up by revealing its plans to summon agriculture minister Lobin Lowe and other officials to explain more on aforementioned issue.

It is alleged that Malawi government, through the Ministry of Agriculture, made an initial payment of MK750 million to Barkaat Foods Limited (BFL) as a commitment fee for the supply of fertilizer under the Affordable Input Programme (AIP) believed to be worth MK30 billion.

In a statement, signed by agriculture principal secretary, Sandram Maweru, the government concedes being “duped” of K750 million, and that it is seeking a refund.

According to Maweru, SFFRFM engaged Barkaat Foods Limited, which had a production line with a well-known supplier, Yara Limited.

SFFRFM was asked to pay MK750 million to lock the price, which it did. After pocketing the payment, the company terminated the contract.

“Barkaat Foods Limited failed to supply and consequently terminated the contract citing loss of production line at Yara UK and that they could no longer commit to supply the fertiliser,” the statement reads.

According to Maweru, the company agreed to transfer back to Malawi MK750 million through the same Ecobank through which it was paid.

“This advance commitment fee payment of about MK750 million is under recall by Ecobank and will be received by the end of this month of October 2022,” adds the statement.

Barkaat Foods Limited is registered in the UK as a slaughterhouse whose line of business involves wholesale trade of meat, dairy products as well as fruits and juices.