An elderly woman injured in Admarc maize scramble in Mzimba

By Victoria Yande

Tragedy struck in Mzimba district yesterday when Lucia Phiri, a 78-year-old local resident, was injured in a stampede at the Agricultural Development and Marketing Corporation (ADMARC) market.

Injured in a maize scramble at Mzimba Admarc Pic Victoria Yande

The incident occurred as Lucia attempted to purchase maize, a staple food in Malawi, amidst a sea of desperate shoppers.

The ADMARC market was congested yesterday, with long queues snaking around the premises.

As Lucia waited patiently in line, the crowd suddenly surged forward, causing her to fall down and she was trampled by the frenzied crowd, sustaining injuries to her lib and arms.

Lucia, a widow, single-handedly cares for her orphaned grandchild who is also disabled but she has no steady income, and relies on charcoal burning and peace work to make ends meet, and sometimes, she goes without food.

The little money Lucia earns from charcoal burning and peace works are barely enough to cover their basic needs she had saved some money to buy maize, but the incident at the market has left her worried about how she will provide for her family.

"I was just waiting to buy some maize, and then suddenly everyone was pushing and shoving, i tried to hold on, but it was too much. I fell down, and people just kept stepping on me and guards rescued me and i don't have money to seek for transport to seek medication," said Phiri.

Another resident of Kamwazeka at the township, Dian Mwale pleaded with government to extend the time frame for buying maize saying currently, the ADMARC market opens only once a week, leaving many families like to struggle with hunger.

Mwale emphasized that the prices of maize at ADMARC are significantly lower compared to what vendors are offering but the overwhelming crowds at the market make it impossible for her to purchase the essential commodity.

"The situation needs an the urgent intervention from government to reconsider its maize distribution strategy, ensuring that vulnerable families have access to affordable food by providing more time to buy maize," said Mwale.