Malawi President fires minister over AIP funds mismanagement

President has fired minister of agriculture Lobin Lowe over mismanagement of 750 million kwacha meant for the procurement of fertilizer in Affordable Inputs Program AIP

Addressing the nation Tuesday evening Dr Lazarus Chakwera said he had replaced Lowe with minister of lands Sam Kawale and will be announcing other changes in cabinet in due course

He said over 66,000 metric tons of fertilizer are available in Malawi and 90 000 metric tons have been secured abroad.

 The president suggested urgent reforms to AIP to improve its efficiency and protect it from corruption as well as wastage.

” I am not here to serve a party, minister or alliance but Malawians although others are trying to intimidate him by colluding with corrupt individuals to sponsor demonstrations,” Chakwera.

Reacting to the address, leader of Opposition in Parliament Kondwani Nankhumwa urged the President to take full responsibility of the messes the country is going through instead of putting blame on others.

According to the press statement released today, Nankhumwa said Chakwera’s address has left Malawians with so many questions than answers, arguing that he was supposed to tackle issues rocking the country

Nankhumwa while commending the president for firing the minister, expressed his wish that “the president would have addressed the skyrocketing prices basic needs, continued nepotism and unfair distribution of national cake.”

Meanwhile, social commentator Joe Mayere says the president has acted out of public pressure and political correctness rather than fulfilling his principles.

Mayere said if the president was serious on dealing with the mess at the ministry of Agriculture, he could have implemented his action in May this year when the fertilizer misprocurement mistake was made.

He expressed doubt on the success of this year’s AIP considering the timing and amount of fertilizer that the country is in possession.

On entrusting the ministry of Agriculture to minister of lands Sam Kawale, Mayere had this to say