The Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) and the Ministry of Agriculture are facing mounting scrutiny over a controversial K3 billion tarpaulin procurement, with critics accusing officials of invoking the threat of maize and fertiliser losses to deflect public accountability.
The proposed contract, which would see Maiden Investment supply 100 tarpaulins at approximately K29.7 million each, is under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) over suspected corruption.
ADMARC Chief Executive Officer Ben Botolo has defended the proposed purchase, arguing that the covers are essential for protecting stored agricultural commodities and facilitating fumigation. However, his remarks have intensified public debate over whether the urgency of protecting maize and fertiliser should be used to justify a procurement whose pricing remains contentious.
The controversy centres on a proposed K3 billion contract that attracted public attention after its details were reported on October 6. Three days later, the ACB intervened, restricting ADMARC from awarding the contract without the bureau’s written consent.
In a notice dated October 9, ACB Acting Director General Gabriel Chembezi directed ADMARC not to award the contract to Maiden Investment or any other company without his written approval.
The bureau said it was investigating a suspected offence under the Corrupt Practices Act, placing the procurement under a cloud of scrutiny before the proposed award could proceed.
ADMARC’s procurement notice had identified Maiden Investment as the successful bidder following the evaluation process. The proposed expenditure translates to nearly K30 million for each tarpaulin, raising questions about the value taxpayers would receive from the deal.
Defending the procurement, Botolo argued that ADMARC had only issued a notification of intention to award the contract and that no competing bidder had formally challenged the process.
“What appeared in the papers was an intention to award. No single bidder has challenged the intention to award. The ones making noise are not the bidders,” he said.
However, the absence of a formal challenge from competing bidders does not settle the questions surrounding the proposed price, nor does it remove the need for a transparent investigation into the procurement.
Botolo further claimed that most competing suppliers had submitted quotations exceeding K2.9 billion, while some bids reportedly reached K3.5 billion and K4.5 billion.
He also cited a Blantyre-based manufacturer that reportedly produces similar tarpaulins for approximately K24 million each, with each unit taking a full day to manufacture.
ADMARC’s public procurement notice, however, did not disclose the dimensions, material, thickness or detailed technical specifications of the covers. Without this information, a definitive comparison between the products available on the market and those ADMARC intends to purchase cannot be made.
The missing specifications have therefore left an important question unanswered: what precisely makes the proposed tarpaulins worth nearly K30 million each?
He said the shortage was already affecting operations in some areas and could force the corporation to offload much of its stored stock.
“ADMARC will be forced to offload most of its commodity because fumigation will only be done using these tarpaulins. Now we are faced with challenges of fumigation and infestation of grain since we do not have tarpaulins in some areas,” Botolo said.
His warning has triggered criticism from analysts and activists, who argue that the risk of agricultural losses must not become a shield against scrutiny of public procurement.
A senior member of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), who has been outspoken about alleged corruption involving senior party officials, accused ADMARC of using the threat of commodity losses to pressure Malawians into accepting the controversial expenditure.
“This is textbook blackmail. ADMARC is trying to hold Malawians to ransom. Anyone involved in this procurement must be investigated. This ‘threat’ must not be allowed to shield them from accountability,” the official told Cables Online, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.
The official’s remarks reflect growing concern that the urgency of protecting maize and fertiliser is being presented as a reason to overlook legitimate questions about the cost and integrity of the procurement process.
Protecting public agricultural stocks is undoubtedly important. However, critics maintain that the responsibility to safeguard those commodities must go hand in hand with responsible spending, competitive procurement and accountability.
The ACB’s intervention means the proposed contract cannot proceed without the bureau’s written consent. The investigation must therefore be allowed to establish whether the procurement complied with the law and whether the proposed prices are adequately justified.
The ADMARC controversy comes amid wider debate over corruption and accountability within the ruling DPP.
Speaker of Parliament Sameer Suleman has called for investigations into alleged corruption, but his stance has reportedly attracted resistance from within the party, including public criticism from the Information Minister and other senior officials.
About the Author
