President Joyce has criticised some Agricultural Development Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) officials for contributing to the maize shortages in the country. President Banda said this on Wednesday during a launch of “a cow, a family” initiative at Mpasa in Phalombe.

President Banda said when the maize has been dispatched in Admarc deports, some unpatriotic Admarc officials make deals with illegal buyers hence the maize shortages in the grain reserves.

“I have learnt that when maize has been dispatched in the country’s Admarc deports, some officials sell the maize to unscrupulous traders leaving the locals suffering. This is very unfair considering that it is the same trend which has resulted in skyrocketing of prices of the commodity on the market.

“I berg the executive officer Dr Jana to fire those corrupt officials”, said Banda.

However, commenting on the maize shortages in the country on Tuesday,Malawi opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) Chief Whip Clement Chiwaya criticised President Joyce Banda and her administration for their stance on the food situation in the country, saying there is no hunger as alleged by the President.

Chiwaya told the House that the country has enough food at the Strategic Grain Reserves, but blamed the government for deliberately bringing chaos to the food distribution process to earn political mileage.

He said the President was using her food relief distribution exercise to campaign with the maize which is readily available in the country.