SW Radio Africa (London)
Henry Makiwa
22 November 2007
Malawi faces severe food shortages after the government of President Bingu wa Mutharika gave thousands of tonnes of maize to the Mugabe regime, which are yet to be paid for.
Our investigations reveal that maize has become scarce on the Malawian market and where it can be found, prices have increased three-fold despite last year's good crop yield. Last year Malawi declared a bumper harvest but now people are angry with Mutharika for emptying the country's grain reserves by giving the food to Zimbabwe.
But grain shortages have brought increases in maize prices. A 50 kilogram bag of maize has shot up in price from 600 kwacha ($US 4) to
2 800 kwacha ($US 17) in the past two months.
Details of the maize deal are shrouded in secrecy, as Zimbabwe is not listed on the debtors' records of the body responsible for grain provisions, the Malawi National Food Reserves Agency. This is despite obvious evidence that grain was exported to Zimbabwe.
The development has sown much public resentment for Mutharika, after further revelations that he was secretly supplying fuel to Mugabe. The fuel deal has reportedly led to severe diesel shortages in the midlands and northern parts of Malawi. The price of fuel has also recently risen by 20% with subsequent similar increases in public transport fares.
Most of Malawi's 11.9 million people earn less than $US 1 a day.
Public opinion is swelling against Mutharika, after revelations that oil tankers destined for Malawi are being diverted to Zimbabwe in a top-level deal between the two leaders. The arrangement is meant to provide a cushion to Zimbabwe's acute fuel shortages. Mugabe's poor economic and political policies have meant that the country faces serious food and fuel shortages.
Kamlepo Kalua of the Malawi Demcratic Party accused Mutharika of jeopardising the welfare of his countryman in support of the tyrannical dictatorship of Mugabe.
Kalua said: "If all the progressive forces of democracy in the world are opposing Mugabe's corrupt governance, abuse of power and disregard of human rights, what duty is it for a poor little country like Malawi to support him.
"The people here are starving and suffering from fuel shortages because their leader has taken it upon himself to aid a pariah state. We are obviously angry especially because this is being done in secrecy without the knowledge of parliament or the public at large, so the people need answers from Mutharika."
Mutharika's late wife was Zimbabwean and the couple owned a farm in Zimbabwe. A known ally of Mugabe, Mutharika launched an anti-corruption drive when he came into power in 2004 but the opposition in Malawi now accuse him of being as crooked as Bakili Muluzi and Kamuzu Banda before him.
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In the Bible there's a story about Joseph in Egypt. He interpreted Pharaoh's dream about the 7 'lean' years preceding the 7 'fat' years. He was made the 'Prime Minister' to be in charge of a huge mission to create grain storage as part of food security. Not only did Egypt feed itself for the 7 years of famine, but also it's neighbours. We know this because Joseph's family came to buy grain in Egypt. This is an example of foresight leadership from about 3,500 years ago. The Malawi leadership should learnt from history!
Cheers, Chiweni Chimbwete