Storm over mega farms list of loan ‘defaulters’

Minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Roza Mbilizi’s announcement of names of mega farms initiative loan “defaulters” has sparked controversy with some claiming to have cleared and the public smelling abuse of resources. The minister read the list in Parliament in Lilongwe on Wednesday afternoon, saying the loans were borrowed through the Malawi Agricultural and Industrial Investment Corporation (Maiic) under the Mega Farms Unit programme. But one of the beneficiaries Rodrick Chattaika, indicated as owing K35.4 million, yesterday said he fully paid his loan on December 15 2025 and is demanding K800 million as damages for defamation.

UTM Party vice-president (Central Region) Helen Chabunya, listed as having only paid part of K143.7 million, posted on her Facebook page yesterday that she had supplied maize and the “balance and figures” required reconciliation which was underway. Mega Farms Support Unit director Henry Msatilomo yesterday refused to grant an interview on claims that some names might have been misrepresented. Maiic chief executive officer Lloyd Banda did not pick our calls yesterday.

The list that has been circulating has 131 names, indicating that some paid part of their loans, others did not pay any amount. In October last year, President Peter Mutharika said the mega farms initiative was riddled with corruption and favouritism that needed to be fixed.