VP warns beneficiaries against selling relief maize

Malawi’s Vice President Jane Ansah has warned beneficiaries of government relief maize against selling the commodity to vendors, cautioning that both sellers and buyers will face prosecution.

Ansah made the warning on Saturday at Kaporo Primary School Ground in the area of Senior Chief Kilupula in Karonga District during the distribution of relief maize under the Government’s Lean Season Food Insecurity Response Programme.

“The government prioritises the welfare of all Malawians, and it is our duty to ensure that no one dies of hunger. Beneficiaries of this programme must not sell the maize to vendors. Anyone found doing so, both the seller and the buyer, will be prosecuted,” she said.

The Vice President further urged people living in flood-prone areas to relocate to safer places, noting that forecasts indicate the country is likely to receive heavy rainfall this year.

Paramount Chief Kyungu of Karonga and Chitipa commended the government for the timely assistance but cautioned communities against laziness.

He said the tendency by some people to shun farming activities in favour of beer drinking is unacceptable and hinders development.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DoDMA), Wilson Moleni, emphasised that the relief maize should reach only the genuinely deserving beneficiaries.

Karonga District has about 14,000 beneficiaries under the programme, with 540 households from Kaporo receiving maize during the distribution exercise.

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