Malawi Congress Party (MCP) through the party’s spokesperson Jessie Kabwila has asked government to increase the number of beneficiaries on the Farm Inputs Subsidy Programme (Fisp).

Kabwila made the call in an interview with one of the local daily paper [Nation Newspaper].

MCP’s call comes following revelations by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)-government that it has maintained programme, pegging it at around K50 billion (US$120 481 928) from last year’s K61 billion (US$146 987 952), but with the same number of beneficiaries.

In her speech, Kabwila said: “If they said they had increased the number of beneficiaries, it would make more sense. The gap between the rich and poor is getting wider every day and the number of vulnerable people is also increasing day by day,” said Kabwila.

Responding to the call, Minister of Information, Tourism and Civic Education Kondwani Nankhumwa said cutting costs on administration of Fisp does not guarantee an increase in the number of beneficiaries.