Supplies Control Act

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Supplies Control Act.

2. Interpretation In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires— “ officer ” means any police officer or any person authorized by the Minister to perform duties under this Act; “ supplies ”, include, any form of cash, goods arms, travel voucher, ticket or other property whatsoever, whether by way of gift, loan or otherwise.

3. Obtaining of supplies by certain organizations etc. (1) Subject to subsection (2), no association, organization or body of persons, whether corporate or unincorporate, and no person acting on behalf of such association, organization or body of persons, shall obtain, receive or accept supplies from any source outside Malawi, without the prior written consent of the Minister. (2) Subsection (1) shall not apply— (a) to any association, organization or body of persons bowfide carrying on any lawful trade or business in Malawi, provided that the supplies concerned are obtained solely for the purpose of such trade or business; (b) to persons, associations or organizations obtaining, receiving or accepting supplies solely for legitimate social or domestic purposes; (c) to such other associations, organizations or bodies of persons, or classes thereof, as may be specified by the Minister by notice published in the Gazette .

4. Rendering supplies to certain organizations etc. (1) Subject to subsection (2), no person shall render supplies to, or for the purposes of, any association, organization or body to which section 3 (1) applies, without the prior written consent of the Minister. (2) The Minister may exempt from subsection (1) such persons and such supplies as he may specify by notice published in the Gazette .

5. Powers of inspection Any officer who has reasonable grounds for believing that any offence has been or is being committed under this Act may require from any person the production for inspection of any book, document, record or paper which such officer considers may relate to or contain information regarding such offence.

6. Liability to forfeiture and powers of seizure Any supplies obtained, received or accepted in contravention of section 3 or any supplies rendered in contravention of section 4 shall be liable to forfeiture and may be seized by any officer.

7. Offences and penalties (1) Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of sections 3 or 4 shall be liable to a fine of £1,000 and to imprisonment for five years. (2) Any person who in any way obstructs the exercise of the powers of inspection under section 5 or the powers of seizure under section 6 shall be liable to a fine of £500 and to imprisonment for three years.