Malawi Police have launched an investigation into allegations that a 20-year-old woman was forced to offer sex in exchange for access to the Affordable Input Programme (AIP) fertiliser at the Mkanda Smallholder Farmers Fertiliser Revolving Fund of Malawi (SFFRFM) depot in Mchinji District.

Gender activist Ackim Bwanali, who has been following the case, confirmed that the matter was reported to the police on Wednesday.

According to Bwanali, two senior managers from SFFRFM came to him to ask questions about the allegations, and he later took them to the girl for further interrogation. They then proceeded to the Mkanda Police Unit to report the matter.

The police investigation follows a story published in the Nation on Sunday on April 9, 2023. The Malawi Human Rights Commission has also expressed its commitment to investigating the matter and bringing the culprit to book.

The SFFRFM has not yet responded to requests for comment on the allegations, but the National Police Spokesperson, Peter Kalaya, urged the victim to report the matter to the police for further investigation.