Disgruntled maize traders on Sunday blocked the John Chilembwe Highway at Chilambula Admarc Depot in Lilongwe, protesting what they believed was a suspension of maize purchases by the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA). The traders, who were seen hoisting tree branches, chanting slogans and burning tyres, accused the agency of turning them away after weeks of waiting to sell their maize. Speaking on behalf of the traders, Maxwell Chikapa, a farmer from Kasungu, said they had spent up to six days in queues only to be sent back without explanation.
He said: “It was unfair to make us wait for weeks and then tell us we could not sell our maize. Police intervened and facilitated a round-table discussion, after which NFRA agreed to resume offloading.” Chikapa said the agency assured them it would buy maize from all trucks already at the depot. However, in an interview, NFRA chief executive officer George Macheka disputed claims that the agency had stopped buying maize, saying only four trucks were turned away after failing to meet quality standards.
He said: “That created the impression that we had closed the market, which was not the case. “We clarified the matter and emphasised that while we will continue buying, we will not compromise on quality.” Macheka said about 70 trucks are currently lined up at Chilambula and NFRA will buy from them before announcing further logistical arrangements. “At the moment, we have space for only 6 000 tonnes at Chilambula Admarc Depot.
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We will issue a press statement outlining the next phase of maize purchases and where traders will offload,” he said. Last week, government announced that NFRA would buy maize from local traders through Admarc depots at K55 000 per bag. Following the announcement, traders initially gathered at Kanengo before being redirected to Chilambula, where the protest erupted amid speculation that the market had been closed.
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