Unanswered Questions Over Missing ADMARC Grain Under MCP Rule
By Suleman Chitera
A cloud of unanswered questions hangs over Malawi’s food security system following persistent allegations that government maize went missing from ADMARC stocks during the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) administration — allegations that authorities have neither confirmed nor denied.
At the centre of the controversy are claims that maize intended for public distribution was allegedly lost or diverted during transportation by a contractor linked to businessman Smolet Kachere. Despite the seriousness of the allegations, no official investigative findings have been made public, and no institution has stepped forward to clearly explain what happened.
The silence has fuelled public suspicion — and intensified calls for transparency.
Allegations Without Answers
According to claims circulating in public discourse, a transporter contracted by ADMARC allegedly caused government maize to go missing while in transit. However, the claims remain troublingly unclear.
Critical details are missing:
How much maize was lost
Which ADMARC depots were affected
When the alleged losses occurred
Whether the maize ever reached its intended destinations
Whether a criminal or corruption case was opened
To date, no delivery records, audit reports, or police dockets have been placed in the public domain.
A Silence That Speaks
Efforts to establish whether the matter was officially investigated have yielded no public confirmation from ADMARC, the Malawi Police Service, or the Ministry of Agriculture.
There are no public records showing that:
A transporter was arrested or charged
ADMARC commissioned or released a special audit
Any official was disciplined or surcharged
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) opened a probe
In a country where maize shortages can mean hunger or survival, the absence of official communication is itself alarming.
The Missing Paper Trail
Losses of public grain typically trigger paperwork: waybills, stock reconciliation reports, internal memos, and audit flags. Yet none of these have been released to explain the alleged disappearance of maize.
Without documentation, the public is left asking whether:
The losses were recorded but never disclosed
Investigations were initiated but quietly buried
Or no investigation was ever carried out at all
Each possibility points to a breakdown in accountability.
Right of Reply Still Open
By press time, there had been no public response from:
ADMARC management
The Ministry of Agriculture
Malawi Police Service
The Anti-Corruption Bureau
Smolet Kachere or his representatives
All parties retain the right to respond, clarify, or provide evidence that either substantiates or dismisses the allegations.
Why This Matters
ADMARC maize is not just a commodity — it is a lifeline for millions of Malawians. Any loss or diversion of government grain:
Undermines national food security
Drives up market prices
Punishes the poorest households
Erodes trust in public institutions
If maize disappeared without consequence, it would represent not just a logistical failure, but a moral one.
Questions Authorities Must Answer
The public deserves clear answers:
- Did ADMARC record unexplained maize losses during this period?
- Were transporters flagged for non-delivery or discrepancies?
- Was an audit conducted — and if so, why is it not public?
- Did police or the ACB open a case?
- If the allegations are false, why has there been no official rebuttal backed by evidence?
Transparency or Silence?
At present, the claims remain unproven. But silence from responsible authorities has allowed doubt to deepen and speculation to grow.
In matters of public food reserves, silence is not neutrality — it is failure.
Until official records are released or investigations are conclusively conducted and communicated, one question remains unavoidable:
Where did the maize go?
