Malawi’s swindled AIP funds recovery awaits German court confiscation order

The repatriation of public funds feared lost in an Affordable Input Programme (AIP) scam, awaits a confiscation order from a German court.

Attorney General Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda has revelled.

The AG was giving an update on last month’s order by President Lazarus Chakwera’s for the recovery of 750 million kwacha that was paid to a dubious UK firm for fertiliser purchases.

According to Chakaka Nyirenda, the money that was paid to the firm through a bank in Munich, Germany will be repatriated to Malawi once a German court issues a confiscation order.

In a statement; the Attorney General has, however, not indicated a timeframe with regard to when the processes will be concluded.

The fertiliser purchase scandal was exposed following social media allegations that the government had been swindled of 30 billion kwacha.

Expectedly, President Chakwera bashed agriculture authorities and the Smallholder Farmers Fertiliser Revolving Fund of Malawi for engaging UK firm as an agent to secure fertiliser without establishing its authenticity.

Parliamentary investigations revealed that various procedures were flouted during the process including by-passing key stakeholders like the ACB and the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority.

Meanwhile, Chairperson of the cabinet committee on AIP, Richard Chimwendo Banda, is assuring Malawians that the AIP will be implemented smoothly.

This year’s AIP is targeting 2.5 million farmers who will benefit from low-priced seed and fertiliser that will be selling at 5,000 kwacha and 15,000 kwacha respectively.