United Transformation Movement (UTM) President Dr. Saulos Chilima has called for the arrest of people who are behind the mishandling of the Tractors which were bought using a $50 million loan.

Chilima said this during a thankyou rally at St Augustine 3 Primary School in the Eastern District of Mangochi.

He said issuing an apology by Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development is not enough on the matter.

“People who are involved in tractor deal are known and still alive. They should be held accountable because the tractors were bought using a loan which Malawians will continue to pay,” said Chilima while attracting ululation from the public.

Last week Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development (MoAIWD) issued the apology over the matter saying the Ministry failed conduct a proper needs assessment on the tractors.

“The MoAIWD would like to admit to have failed to conduct a proper needs assessment in the beneficiary institutions to guide what equipment should be procured using the loan. We were at fault, and sincerely apologise for the irregular procurement and disposal of the equipment,” the ministry said.

In 2011, Government used a $50,000,000 loan from Export-Import Bank of India to buy 177 tractors to be used by smallholder farmers.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, while purchasing the equipment the ministry failed to pay particular technical attention to the technology of the equipment, resulting into the purchase of equipment with archaic technology.