Strike threatens supply of fuel

 Fuel importers and mi lk producer s yesterday started counting losses from the on-going truck drivers’ strike which has paralysed supply chains and distribution nationwide.

Petroleum Importers Limited (PIL), a consortium of private sector oil marketing companies, and State-owned National Oil Company of Malawi (Nocma) Limited indicated yesterday that at least 600 000 litres of fuel were stuck at the country’s borders and along roads as truck drivers continued their strike yesterday by blocking other hauliers from operating.

On the other hand, national director Herbert Chagona said the strike has also affected the dairy sector with 460 000 litres of milk lost in the two days. Malawi Milk Producers Association

In an interview yesterday, PIL general manager Martin Msimuko said the strike has crippled fuel delivery and that they failed to deliver more than 600 000 litres of fuel to customers.

“We wish the strike could be

 resolved quicker because if it goes on the products in the filling stations would be depleted which will bring more disruptions,” he said.

Nocma deputy chief executive officer Micklas Reuben, in a separate interview, said fuel importation has been disrupted as trucks carrying fuel have not been allowed entry into Malawi.

This blockade, he said, has created congestion and raised the risk of fire eruption at the borders.

 He said: “Trucks that have already discharged fuel at the terminals cannot go back to the ports to load more volumes. The cycle is, therefore, disrupted. It is always difficult to restart the cycle when it is disrupted.”

Reuben said off-takers were also unable to transport fuel from Nocma depots to filling stations.

Chagona, on the other hand, said the strike costs dairy farmers up to K126 million per day.

He expressed fear that farmers

 may lose cows if the strike is prolonged because the animals suffer milk fever when they are not being milked.

Transporters Association of Malawi general secretary Elliot Mussa said truck owners were also feeling the pinch because they make money when their trucks are moving.

On Thursday afternoon, trucks carrying cargo were still grounded

in Mwanza, Karonga and Blantyre.

At Mwanza border, there were over 60 trucks, including fuel tankers while in Karonga, trucks were stuck around Karonga Roundabout.

Professional Drivers Association of Malawi (Produm) chairperson Major Mkandawire said in an interview that they were meeting officials from ministries of Labour and Transport on Thursday evening.

Meanwhile, Minister of Information and Digitisation Moses Kunkuyu said last evening that a resolution was reached on both passports noncompliance issues on wages by some transporters.

The official government spokesperson said truck drivers will be assisted as executives at Immigration.

The closed-door meeting was also attended by Minister of Labour Agnes NyaLonje, Minister of Transport and Public Works Jacob Hara and Minister of Homeland Security Ken Zikhale Ng’oma.

Produm officials were not immediately available for a comment.

Th e dr i v e r s ar e demanding that the Department of Immigration and Citizenship Services renew their passports while on wages the Ministry of Labour should peg their minimum monthly wage at K300 000.

The strike started on Wednesday when the drivers parked their vehicles to push for processing of their passports and implementation of pay hike