Balaka FISP Scandal: Government Orders Return of Subsidised Inputs After Civil Servants Exposed

The 2025/26 Farm Input Subsidy Programme (FISP) in Balaka District has been hit by a fresh scandal following the discovery that 52 civil servants were irregularly registered as beneficiaries, a development that has reignited concerns over deep-rooted corruption in the programme.

The revelation comes amid growing criticism from activists and civil society organisations who, since the start of the distribution exercise, have warned that the FISP is facing serious implementation challenges at village level.

Reports from various parts of the country indicate that the programme has been infiltrated by ghost names and manipulated beneficiary lists, allegedly facilitated by some traditional leaders working in collusion with agricultural field officers. In many cases, subsidised fertiliser is reportedly diverted and resold for personal gain.

Political activist Bon Kalindo has been one of the outspoken critics of the programme, repeatedly urging government to scrap FISP and instead allow fertiliser to be sold on the open market at affordable prices. Kalindo alleges that some chiefs are demanding illegal top-up fees ranging from K30,000 to K40,000 per bag, in addition to the official K10,000 redemption fee.

He further claims that in some districts, a single bag of fertiliser is being shared among up to six beneficiaries, a practice he says undermines the programme’s intended impact and renders it ineffective.

“These irregularities will ultimately reflect badly on the government if they are not addressed,” Kalindo warned, adding that such failures could haunt the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as it seeks to regain power in the 2030 general elections.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development has acknowledged the irregular registration of civil servants in Balaka, describing it as a serious violation of FISP guidelines.

In a letter dated 19 December 2025 and addressed to the Balaka District Commissioner, the Ministry disclosed that of the 52 civil servants identified, 18 had already redeemed subsidised inputs while 34 had not. All have since been removed from the beneficiary register.

The Ministry has directed the District Commissioner to ensure that those who already redeemed the inputs immediately return them to SFFRFM depots so they can be redistributed to deserving beneficiaries. It has also instructed the district to institute disciplinary action against all Agricultural Field Officers implicated in the malpractice and submit a detailed report on the matter.

“Attached is the list of the civil servants who were allegedly registered in the programme,” the letter reads in part, signalling government’s intent to clamp down on abuse of the subsidy scheme.