A 28-year-old man is in police custody in Dedza for allegedly being found in possession of fake maize seeds packed in bags of Mosanto brand.
Police in Dedza have confirmed of the development in an interview with the Press and identified the suspect as Catherine Nthala Kachipande.
The Police arrested Kachipande on Thursday after receiving a tip from well-wishers in the district.
“We received a tip that in a certain house around Airfield location there were people packing fake seeds. When police reached the house in mention they found the suspected fake seed being packed in bags of Mosanto brand.
“After thorough search, 137 bags 2kgs, 16 bags 5kgs and 3 bags 50kgs of the same were recovered,” reads in part.
The development comes amid delay by government to start free distribution of maize seeds in ADMARC depots under Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP).
On Thursday opposition members of Parliament (MPs) on Thursday questioned the delay in the August House, saying the move will negatively affect production as farmers will not plant early.
On his response Minister of Finance Goodall Gondwe admitted that this year’s FISP programme has been hit by numerious challenges.
Meanwhile Gondwe urged Malawians to exercise patience saying government is doing whatever it can to iron out the challenges rocking the programme.
