State produce trader Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) says the 12 304 metric tonnes (MT) of maize declared “not-fit-for-human-consumption” is still under collateral and its disposal will be decided upon clearance.

Admarc board  chairperson Zachary Kasomekera said in an interview on Monday that the World Bank did not pay for the 12 304MT of the country’s staple grain because it was discoloured.

Maize stock in an Admarc warehouse in this file photo

He said: “The maize was examined by SGS on behalf of the World Bank and some maize did not meet one of their criteria due to discolouration as a result of long storage.

“As regards suitability for human consumption, there is need for further examination, but as of now it is discolouration, not rotting as claimed.”

Kasomekera said the maize was still under collateral with NBS Bank and that Admarc will decide the way forward once it is cleared.

“The maize is at various locations, including, Mponela, Balaka Depot, Lumbadzi, Nsanama and Sedi Admarc depots,” he said.

Kasomekera’s explanation followed The Nation enquiry on the status of the maize after two Cabinet ministers last week gave conflicting presentations in Parliament on the maize condition.

In his statement in Parliament last week, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs Sosten Gwengwe said the World Bank did not pay for the said 10 000MT of maize valued at about K3 billion because it was rotten and unfit for human consumption.

But in his presentation in the same House later last week, Minister of Agriculture Sam Kawale disputed the claim that the maize was rotten, arguing it had only been fumigated and that the quantity involved was not 10 000 MT, but 12 304MT.

In an interview on Monday, Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture chairperson Sameer Suleman insisted on an inquiry or audit to establish the state and quantities of maize at Admarc.

He said: “There are reports that maize at Admarc was being sold to traders and some of the maize found its way to Tanzania and other countries.

“A maize audit would help establish if Admarc was not selling the maize to traders who sold it outside the country. It does not have to be the Agriculture Committee doing the inquiry. It can also be done by independent auditors.”

Suleman proposed that the audit looks at the quantities before closing of Admarc and after it had been closed, but also the quantities that have been moved to strategic grain reserves and the maize that discoloured.

The NBS Bank maize tonnage under collateral was 63 041.27MT and the World Bank helped government to procure about 50 000MT, which is now under the Strategic Grain Reserves.

The remaining maize was earlier reported to be unfit for human consumption.

The post ‘Rotten’ maize still under collateral—Admarc first appeared on The Nation Online.