Malawians have entered the New Year 2025 on fuel queues due to erratic fuel availability which has left some areas having dry pumps for days, but there is no explanation from duty-bearers.
The Nation snap survey in the cities of Blantyre, Zomba, Lilongwe and Mzuzu as well as some districts yesterday showed that there is persistent fuel shortage, especially petrol and long queues in few service stations that had the commodity in stock.
In Salima, Machinga, Mangochi, Karonga and Mchinji districts the situation was dire as fuel was only available at one or two service stations.
Efforts to seek an official explanation from the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) proved futile as both the chief executive officer Henry Kachaje and consumer affairs and public relations manager Fitina Khonje were not responsive to calls and WhatsApp.
On the other hand, National Oil Company of Malawi (Nocma) spokesperson Raymond Likambale said Mera was better-placed and has the mandate to explain the situation.
He said the regulator usually has information from all licensees which import fuel, including Nocma.
“Let me refer you to Mera. They would be better-placed as they usually get reports from all fuel importers. Nocma is just one of the licensees,” said Likambale.
By close of business yesterday, there were just a few service stations with fuel in the capital city, Lilongwe. It was the same experience in Blantyre, Zomba and Mzuzu.
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has attributed the country’s now perennial fuel crisis to poor governance, corruption and a lack of political will.
In a statement signed by national chairperson Gift Trapence and national coordinator Kelvin Chirwa, HRDC cr i t i c i s ed the government’s plan to introduce a government-to-government (G2G) fuel procurement arrangement, describing it as opaque and questionable.
“While the government claims to be exploring such an arrangement with Kenya, it must be noted that Kenya abandoned this system because it was deemed unattainable and unsustainable.
“This raises serious doubts about the feasibility and sincerity of the proposed approach for Malawi,” the statement reads in part.
Malawi needs $600 million annually to bring in fuel, but generates just around $1 billion.
In total, the country needs $3 billion to meet its import requirements.
In a national address in November, President Lazarus Chakwera said his administration was mooting a government–to–government fuel deal with the United Arab Emirates with more flexible payment arrangements to avert perennial fuel stockouts, which worsened last year.
