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| Mr. Martin Chipphwanya, Acting National Secretary CCJP |
The Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP), a social development arm of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM), has expressed worry over the continued food and drug shortage in the country; a situation which the Commission says puts lives of Malawians at risk.
CCJP Acting National Secretary, Martin Chiphwanya has since challenged the Government and other concerned partners to ensure that the right to food and essential health services is guaranteed to every Malawian citizen by making sure that maize is available in Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (Admarc) deports and that adequate drug supply is also available in all public hospitals.
Martin notes that although drugs could be available in hospitals, in most cases they are stolen and as a result poor people do not have access to medicine.
“People are dying to diseases that can easily be cured. Poor people are also feeling the pinch as they don’t have the financial muscle to buy the medicine from Pharmacies,” he said adding that “it is worrisome to note that in other cases, more especially in the villages, people are buying medicines in uncertified shops and pharmacies which is a big threat to their right to life”.
Martin observed that so far there seem no any punitive measures given to those caught in the act of stealing medicine from public hospitals and in an event that culprits are caught, not heavy punishment is given to them as the society expects.
“CCJP believes that life is very sacred and all efforts should be taken to make sure that people’s lives are not put at any risk,” he added.
On food shortage situation, CCJP calls upon government to take necessary measures to make sure that maize is readily available in all Admarc deports and that those who connive with Admarc deport officials should be brought to book.
“We urge the Police and sectors involved to perform their role by ensuring that there is safety for Malawians who go to Admarc deports to buy maize and that those vendors that buy maize dubiously should be arrested,” said Chiphwanya.
He also challenged politicians who are taking advantage of the scarcity of maize to stop conniving with Admarc officials and buy maize dubiously with the selfish minds to achieve their political ambitions by donating in various fora including hospitals and political meetings.
“For instance, in Chikwawa we have received reports that people are queuing up at Admarc depots for long hours, some even spending nights in order to buy maize. They are being allowed to purchase 20 kilograms per person. Currently at local markets a bag of 50kgs is selling at K13, 000 which is not affordable by many poor people,” noted Chiphwanya.
Meanwhile, President Peter Mutharika in his state of national address on Wednesday 3rd February ordered the Police to track down and arrest all criminal maize vendors who connive with crooked Admarc officials to purchase subsidized maize at night and resell it to poor citizens at exorbitant prices.
Catholic Development Commission in Malawi (Cadecom), a relief and development arm of ECM is currently distributing relief food to hunger affected households in some parts of the country as part of World Food Program.