Minister sacked over sale of grain

President Bakili Muluzi on Wednesday sacked his Minister Responsible for Poverty Alleviation, Leonard Mangulama, following revelations of his involvement in the sale of strategic grain reserves ahead of a massive food shortage. Malawi's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) had recommended the prosecution of Mangulama, the former Minister of Agriculture, for abuse of office and criminal negligence relating to the sale of the maize. Fahad Assani, Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) said over the weekend that the ACB had requested his office to prosecute Mangulama for allegedly being involved in a US $38 million (Malawi Kwacha 2.7 billion) maize sale, partly blamed for the country's food crisis. Three million people in Malawi face hunger, according to the latest reports of humanitarian agencies. Alex Nampota, ACB Deputy Director, told IRIN that officials of the state run Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) and the National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) had discharged their functions in a manner bordering on criminal negligence and recklessness. Public officials had bought maize from the grain reserves under circumstances which pointed to abuse of office, Nampota said. Mangulama allegedly procured 300 mt of maize from the reserve and later sold it at a profit without actually paying for it. However, he claims the non-payment of the debt is reflected because his account has not been reconciled. Mangulama also claims that he did not buy all of the 300 mt of maize, as claimed by the ACB. More than 160,000 mt of grain was sold from the strategic grain reserves, 60,000 mt of which was exported to Kenya. Official figures say 500 people have starved to death as a result of Malawi's food shortage. However, churches and aid groups say the figure could well be higher. The ACB has also recommended that top officials from ADMARC and NFRA be prosecuted for mismanaging the grain stocks. Ollen Mwalubunju, Director of the Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation (CHRR) welcomed the sacking of Mangulama, but added: "We still need more. We commend this step but hope to see that all those people in public office responsible for this [crisis are] fired." Mwalubunju earlier told IRIN that Muluzi had ignored calls of impending hunger. Instead, he alleged, Muluzi focused on a proposed amendment bill that would allow him to run for a third term of office. The ACB report also said several legislators, from the ruling United Democratic Front and the opposition, had bought grain from ADMARC and re-sold it locally at a profit. Malawi is currently faced with a maize shortfall of 480,000 mt. Muluzi declared a state of national disaster in February and appealed for international assistance.