Cama urges crack downon illegal fuel vending
The Consumers Association of Malawi (Cama) has called on authorities to crack down on illegal fuel vending worsened by the ongoing fuel crisis in the country.
Speaking in an interview yesterday, Cama executive director John Kapito said fuel is a highly flammable commodity which if not handled well can put lives and property of consumers at risk.
He was reacting to observations of what seems to be a thriving black market of both petrol and diesel in various parts of the country, where vendors are seen openly displaying the commodity in plastic bottles and jerry cans on street sidewalks despite the practice being illegal.

Said Kapito: “We all know that fuel is a regulated commodity in this country. That is why the government needs to act swiftly on the matter and ensure that it is not being sold by unlicensed individuals.”
During spot checks in Blantyre, Zomba and Lilongwe cities yesterday, some youths were seen displaying petrol in five-litre and two-litre bottles.
In Blantyre, the illegal sales are taking place at Makheta off Limbe-Machinjiri Road and at Makata Industrial Area while in Lilongwe fuel black market is thriving in Biwi and Mtandire townships, among others.
The Nation correspondents also reported that the malpractice is rife in Mchinji, Mangochi, Karonga and Salima while in Nkhata Bay and Dedza the fuel on the parallel market is sold clandestinely.
Meanwhile, Malawi Regulatory Authority (Mera) spokesperson Fitina Khonje has said the authority’s hands are tied on the matter, as its mandate extends only to those licensed to trade in fuel.
“When we encounter a scenario where some unlicensed individuals are selling fuel, all we need to do is inform the police,” she said.
On his part, National Police spokesperson Peter Kalaya acknowledged the problem, saying their sweeping exercises have led to the arrest of some of the illegal fuel vendors.
When told that there are numerous vendors openly displaying the fuel by the roadside, he said the public has a responsibility to report such to the police.
“You must know that when such vendors see the police they run away,” said Kalaya.
A Lilongwe-based taxi operator Simplex Maganga said he pays up to K10 000 for a litre of petrol, which translates to K50 000 for five litres.