Govt angers DPP veep Mhango  over distribution disparities in AIP

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) vice president for the north, Jappie Mhango, has expressed anger at the decision by the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) administration not to allocate adequate fertilizers to the Northern and Southern Regions in the implementation of the first phase this year’s Affordable Input Programme (AIP) this year.

Mhango feared this could be a deliberate plot by the MCP government to create hunger in the two regions.

His sentiments follow revelations that government-owned Smallholder Farmers’ Fertilizer Revolving Fund of Malawi (SFFRFM) has allocated over 60 percent (6 571.95 metric tonnes) of fertiliser out of the 10 403.20 metric tonnes to  the Central Region.

The said tonnage has already been distributed under the AIP, according to SFFRFM officials.

On the other hand, SFFRFM has allocated 3 335.25 metric tonnes to the Southern Region while the Northern Region only received 496 metric tonnes.

Mhango has feared that the government is trying to create hunger in the Northern and Southern regions. He has questioned government’s motive in providing fertiliser to all districts in the Central Region and almost depriving the Northern Region.

“Obviously as a son of the soil in the North, I am extremely disappointed with what the government is doing, very disappointed. What is happening in this country is discrimination at its worst,” said Mhango.

Members of the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture expressed disappointment over the disparities in the distribution of the fertilizer, with Mhango, who is also lawmaker for Rumphi North, expressing fear that the government is trying to create hunger in the Northern and Southern Regions.

Speaking to Nation Publications Limited (NPL) on the sidelines of the interface with SFFRFM officials on Wednesday, Mhango questioned government’s motive in providing fertiliser to all districts in the central region and almost depriving the Northern Region.

“Obviously as a son of the soil in the North, I am extremely disappointed with what the government is doing, very disappointed. What is happening in this country is discrimination at its worst. I am very annoyed by this disparity,” he said.

In his remarks, the committee chairperson, Sameer Suleman, said it does not make sense to have one region benefit over half of the fertiliser.

Suleman said the rains also start in the Southern Region and one would expect the government to send more fertiliser to the region, which is also heavily affected by hunger.