By Suleman Chitera
The Makanjira Development Foundation (MDF) has raised a red flag over alleged large-scale corruption in the distribution of subsidised farm inputs (FISP) in Makanjira, formally petitioning the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and the Ministry of Agriculture to intervene.
Speaking to Radio Islam, MDF Director Ousmane Kennedy said the organisation has received multiple complaints from farmers and community members who claim they are being forced to pay far more than the government-approved price of K10,000 to access fertiliser.
Kennedy described the allegations as serious and well-documented, saying MDF has already submitted a list of high-profile individuals suspected to be behind the malpractice.
“This is not a rumour mill. We have names, evidence and testimonies. These details are already in the hands of ACB and the Ministry,” said Kennedy.
According to MDF, the alleged fraud is undermining the very purpose of FISP, a programme designed to cushion poor farmers, not to enrich a few connected individuals at their expense. The foundation argues that the illegal price hikes are deliberately exploiting desperate farmers, many of whom depend on the subsidy to survive each farming season.
Kennedy warned that failure by authorities to act decisively would amount to tacit approval of corruption.
“People in Makanjira want a full, transparent investigation. The law must apply to everyone — whether ordinary sellers or powerful officials. FISP cannot become a feeding trough for the corrupt,” he said.
As pressure mounts, ACB and the Ministry of Agriculture have yet to issue a response to MDF’s complaint. Meanwhile, farmers continue to count losses while waiting to see whether the institutions mandated to protect public resources will move beyond statements and deliver justice.
The unfolding situation once again puts the spotlight on corruption in public programmes and raises a hard question: Will the authorities act, or will farmers be left to pay the price for official silence?
