Times Of Swaziland: NMC PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE

NMC PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE
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editor on 17/06/2022 07:37:00


Sir,
I read with shock and disgust an article that was published in this publication
on Wednesday, May 25, 2022, where the National Maize Corporation (NMC) revealed
that it had only one month’s worth of stock left as the country is grappling
with an imminent shortage of maize.
It is true that maize production in the country suffered greatly over the past
farming season due inadequate supplies of fertiliser and excessive rains. But
the maize corporation must tell the nation the truth.
It must not hide behind the war between Russia and Ukraine and say it has been a
catalyst to the country’s inability to produce enough maize at the end of the
past farming season. NMC stated that even without the negative effects of the
war and other factors, Eswatini still struggled to produce enough maize to cover
the needs of the economy.
The latter may be true, but the NMC is playing Russian roulette with the
country’s coffers. We know this game, they are preparing to buy maize in US
Dollars at exorbitant prices. They thrive on shortage crises! Don’t they have
a leading minimum stock requirement to avoid such? The CEO must be grilled by
the relevant stakeholders about this. We are dealing with a political crisis and
now this? Ayi kulikhuni mncwi.