By Chisomo Phiri
As part of a smooth way of restructuring process, the Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) on Monday 30,2023 announced the retrenchment of all its workers, effective Wednesday February 1,2023.
In a staff circular which has no name but a signature, the country’s grain market reveals only skeleton staff will be given a three months contract to help with the transition while the company will be completing other processes
The circular states that the last working day for all the 4,687 employees is today Tuesday,31 January 2023 and that all employees will recieve their letters.
“Govermment has committed to paying the following within the required period: January 2023 salaries, pensions and retrenchment package,” reads the circular.
The firing of all the staff marks the end to an institution that has consumed billions of taxpayers and is abused by politicians from successive ruling parties.
The Tonse Alliance regime was responsible for the disappearance of 38,000 tons of maize and its board over paid itself allowances.
Initially, the corporation indicated that it would only fire 3,122 employees out of the 4,687 workers on its books.
Notice for retrenchment was sent on September 16 2022, titled ‘Notice of Intention to Carry Out Retrenchment at Admarc Limit’ and promised that it will be in phased manner.
The Admarc which audit found has ghost workers is estimated to have had a wage bill of around K750 million per month, when it only makes just about K50 million.
In August 2022, fired Minister of Agricultre Lobin Lowe closed Admarc due to high levels of corruption, theft and professional negligence.
Lowe himself was also fired after it transpired that his Ministry paid a butchery K750 million for fertilizer.
