By Staff Reporter

Government has suspended all services of state grain marketer, ADMARC, with immediate effect and staff has been told not to report for duties unless instructed as such.

The call was made by Agriculture minister, Lobin Lowe, when he addressed the media in Lilongwe on this matter

In his speech lowe said For over two years government has been analyzing best ways of restructuring the and has established that ADMARC’s failure to tick and bring the desired results is attributed to numerous factors.
“Some of these factors include:

1.Prolonged conflicts between ADMARC Board of
directors and Management leading to poor
governance
2.Abuse of Company finances and theft by some
employees
3.Low productivity contributed to laziness of
some Company employees
4.Suspected corrupt practices perpetrated by
some employees of the Company
5.Unprocedural recruitment of some employees
leading to excess workforce in the Company

Lowe says Admarc staff will be on paid leave. Only staff working in strategic ADMARC selling points will continue selling maize to ensure people are not negatively affected.

“In line with the cited mandates, the Shareholders have observed continued low performance of the Company and have, therefore, decided to take the
following actions with immediate effect:
1. Re-define the functions of the Company
2. Suspend all the services except social services until further notice
3. Send all members of staff on paid leave except those that will be communicated to.” Lowe said

The minister says the idea is to ensure ADMARC is serving the purpose it was originally established for.

Lowe says corruption and abuse of resources are some of the factors affecting operations of ADMARC hence this decision.