Today, December 25, is Christmas Day when Christians across the world celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ with prayer, merry and sharing.
But to many Malawian families, this year’s Christmas has come at a time they are feeling the strain of high inflation, hovering around 27.3 percent, which has weakened their buying power.
From farmers in rural areas to small-scale vendors in the cities, Malawians are adjusting their expectations, finding creative ways to make the festive season work despite the economic hardships.
Mphatso Damiano, a 35-year-old farmer from Salima, personifies how inflation is affecting ordinary Malawians.
“This wi ll be a lean Christmas,” she stated in an interview yesterday. “I will do something for my children because it is the festive season. I will buy them rice, chicken and some kamba puffs.”
Damiano said these seemingly “simple treats” will mean a lot to her children as it will give them a semblance of celebration, although different from previous years.
“It will be different from last year because I bought them some clothes,” she reflected, noting that new clothes on Christmas Day represent a special treat for many impoverished families in Malawi.
The struggles of local businesses are also evident in the retail sector where Lyford Samuel, a 42-year-old apparel vendor in Lilongwe, lamented that high inflation has led to a significant decline in sales.
“Business is slow,” he said glancing at a handful of customers entering his store.
At the time of the interview, three potential buyers walked into the shop, but none bought anything. A mother, in search of a toddler’s tracksuit, walked away after being told the price was K10 500 while a teenager looking for slip-ons and a boy eyeing a T-shirt also left without making any purchases.
In Blantyre, Samuel Mbewe, 34, was seen walking aimlessly and slowly in a Sana supermarket at The Ginnery Mall in Blantyre.
“I am struggling to find what I can buy as gifts for my children. Almost everything has gone up in price and I have very little money to spend,” he said.
Another shopper at Pep Store, Fanuel Phiri, said his Christmas spoiled by a poor interbank connectivity when he wanted to use a point-of-sale device.
After several failed attempts to use his Visa card, he tried to transfer the money to his mobile money wallet only for the amount to hang in the bank system without reflecting in his mobile account.
“That was the last money I had. It means I will go home empty handed because of a poor inter-bank system,” he said, walking out of the shop.
In Mzuzu City, the once-quiet streets were bustling with energy and growing crowds. Shops were packed, and long queues stretched through every corner.
Automated teller machines were in high demand, with long queues of people.
Taxi operators were also charging inflated fares, reflecting the high demand as people travelled between neighbourhoods and headed to family gatherings.
In contrast, Waliko Kaunda, a teacher at Good Shepherd International School in Lilongwe used a gift voucher f rom his employer for shopping.
“I’ve felt the pinch of rising prices,” he admits, acknowledging the challenge of maintaining a standard of living amid soaring costs. “But luckily enough, I got a shopping voucher, so that will take care of the groceries for January. ”
Kaunda’s story highlights an inequality that is becoming more pronounced in Malawi, the divide between those with stable employment and those relying on unpredictable incomes.
While Kaunda’s voucher provides a buffer, many others lack such safety nets.
This year, the usual Christmas celebrations are tempered by the reality of inflation, making it difficult for many families to fully enjoy the season.
