The Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (Cdedi) has given Minister of Energy Ibrahim Matola seven days to find a solution to the fuel crisis or to quit.
In a statement dated November 12 2024 and signed by its executive director Sylvester Namiwa, Cdedi said they plan to hold vigils at Matola’s office until the fuel crisis is resolved.
Reads the statement in part: “From where we stand, it is apparent that you have run out of ideas as to how the nation will reclaim the seamless supply of fuel, hence the silence.
“Such being the case, you may wish to justify why the taxpayer should continue paying you for literally doing nothing on the fuel situation.”
Cdedi said it was concerned with Matola’s silence and on several occasions it has been the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) chief executive officer Henry Kachaje addressing Malawians on the matter.
In an interview yesterday, Namiwa said Kachaje has been making promises that have not yielded positive outcomes regarding stabilising fuel availability.
Matola was not available for comment and his public relations officer Marshall Dyton asked for more time before responding to our questions.
The Ministry of Energy through its Liquid Fuel and Gas Department is mandated to promote and support production, distribution and utilisation of liquid fuels and gas in the country.
For four weeks and counting now, Malawi is experiencing erratic availability of petrol and diesel attributed to shortage of foreign exchange and other contractual glitches with suppliers.
