Debate has ensued on the social media over a decision by the Department of Disaster Management (DoDMA) to award a contract to two companies AWS Trucking and ASIP and A Investments to supply goats to government at a price of MK41,000.00 each.

DoDMA is implementing a supply and delivery of Goats programme under the post cyclone idai and kenneth emergency recovery and resilience project.

The development has attracted mixed reactions with many questioning the rationale behind the move considering the fact that the price of goats purchased locally is pegged at Mk15,000.00.

In a statement released yesterday, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Member of Parliament for Nsanje Lalanje Gladys Ganda has demanded an investigation into the matter.

“As a Shadow Minister of Trade, I find this unreasonable, corrupt and an insult to Malawians. Our President has been asking Malawians to respect his government. What has happened here is the same as the President says ‘ Kuatengera aMalawi kumtoso.

“if DoDMA wanted prudence in the procurement of these goats, the best was to use the Councils to buy these goats direct from the farmers in the designated areas of delivery. This could have reduced the cost fairly and it would have empowered the local farmers unlike what is happening here where the 2 companies that are being earmarked to be given the contracts, will go and buy from farmers poorly with as little as K10 000 yet the same goat is attracting K41 000 from Government. This is total theft of poor Malawians,” said Ganda.

Ganda has since asked the Minister of Finance and Economic Development to intervene on the matter and halt the deal.

Meanwhile the Tonse Alliance government is yet to comment on the matter.