National Food Reserve Agency (NFRA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Brenda Kayongo has been suspended over the missing of 13 trucks carrying Strategic Grain Reserve (SGR) maize K123 million.
According to a Memo dated January 12, 2023 which we have seen, NFRA Human Resources and Administration Director Humphreys Kalele Gunchi said the suspension is with immediate effect pending further investigations and disciplinary processes.
“All matters requiring the attention of the Chief Executive Officer should be addressed to the Finance Director, Mr. David Loga. I request all of you to continue working diligently and to provide support to Mr. Loga and the entire Management during this period,” reads part of the Memo
In November, the local media reported that trucks assigned to deliver 410 metric tonnes of maize worth K123 million from Admarc depots to NFRA in Lilongwe did not reach their destination.
NFRA Board chairperson Dennis Kalekeni said the maize went missing through a transporter, Smollett Kachere of Kachere Agriculture Trading, who was one of the three firms hired by NFRA to transfer the maize. He said the other companies are Omar’s and Nzeru Za Abambo.
According to Kalekeni, Omar’s did not participate in the ferrying of the maize despite being given the deal because it was looking for an adjustment in transportation rates in the wake of the 25 percent devaluation of the Kwacha and a significant jump in the cost of fuel.
He observed that Nzeru Za Abambo only uplifted a fraction of the maize because it felt it could not proceed as it was making losses in the deal.
