By Vincent Khonje

Mchinji, January 13, Mana: Police in Mchinji have arrested a 35-year-old teacher, Owen Banda, for fraudulently obtaining farm inputs meant for farmers under the Mega Farm Loan project and selling them for personal gain.

According to police investigations, the Mega Farm Loan project, facilitated by the Ministry of Agriculture, allows farmers with at least 20 hectares of land to acquire farm inputs on loan.

However, Banda falsely claimed ownership of a 20-hectare piece of land which did not belong to him to secure inputs valued at MK43,142,400.

Mchinji Police Public Relations Officer, Sergeant Limbani Mpinganjira, said that the inputs Banda fraudulently obtained included 256 bags of NPK and Urea fertilizer, 800 kilograms of certified maize seed, 128 litres of Hannes chemical, and 128 litres of Round-Up chemical which were later found being sold at his shop.

“The suspect used a fabricated land claim to access the loan and obtained the farm inputs, which he then put up for sale,” Mpinganjira said.

The fraud came to light when authorities overseeing the Mega Farm Loan project became suspicious of Banda’s activities and reported the matter to Mkanda Police Post which led to his immediate arrest.

Efforts by the police to recover the stolen inputs are ongoing.

Banda is currently in custody at Mchinji Police Station and will soon appear in court to face charges of Fraud other than pretences under Section 319A of the Penal Code.

Banda is a teacher at Chimwamkango General Farming Primary School in Mchinji District and hails from Mlengwe Village, Traditional Authority Dzoole, in Dowa District.