Motorists traveling on the M1 road connecting Blantyre and Lilongwe will have to dig deeper to pay for tollgate fees which have been adjusted upwards but will roll out from January 1 2026.
According to the Malawi Gazette Supplement dated December 12 2025 signed by Minister of Finance, Economic Planning and Decentralisation Joseph Mwanamveka, the adjustments will see some vehicles paying double the current amounts.
For instance, light vehicles, classified as Class 1A, will be paying K2 000, up from K1 000.
Pickup vehicles, classified as Class 1B will also be paying K2 000, from K1 000, the same as light vehicles.
Minibuses on the other hand, which are classified as Class 1C, will be paying K3 000, up from the previous gazetted K2 000.
Class 2A vehicles, which carry between 17 and 31 passengers and have a rear double tyre will be paying K8 000, up from K4 000.
Class 2B vehicles, which are those weighing between two and five tonnes with a rear double tyre will also be paying K8 000 while Class 3 vehicles, which carry 31 passengers will be paying K8 000 from the previous K4 000.
Vehicles weighing between five and 10 tonnes will be paying K8 000, up from K4 000 while those weighing beyond 10 tonnes will be paying K10 000. For abnormal loads, the amount has also doubled from K20 000 to K40 000 following the new gazetted regulations.
Based on details contained in the Malawi Gazette Supplement, the adjustments have been made following consultations between the Roads Fund Administration (RFA) and Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Decentralisation.
However, the previous tollgate fees were reduced from the initial amounts that were set when government was rolling out operations of the tollgates in 2021.
The tollgates include Chingeni in Ntcheu and Kaliyeke in Dedza.
The tollgate fees were reduced following an outcry from motorists and other interested groups, including human rights activist Bon Kalindo, who threatened to protest by then.
For instance, the initial amount set for light vehicles was K1 700, K3 400 for minibuses and pickups, K5 100 for vehicles with between 17 to 31 passengers, K8 000 for vehicles with 10 tonnes capacity while abnormal load vehicles were required to pay K20 000.
The figure for the abnormal load vehicles was, however, maintained.
But the new tollgate fees adjustments come at a time motorists are frustrated with the status of roads which remain in bad shape despite RFA collecting K12 billion at Chingeni and Kaliyeke tollgates as of end October 2025.
While RFA spokesperson Masauko Ngwaluko was yet to respond to our questionnaire sent to him yesterday, Minibus Owners Association of Malawi (Moam) expressed their dissatisfaction and have since demanded government’s justification.
Moam general secretary Coaxley Kamange said in a telephone interview yesterday that it is appalling for RFA to adjust the tollgate fees without consultations from important stakeholders amid valid concerns on status of roads.
“Moam supports any initiative that brings development. However, we are against the new gazetted toll fees. They should not adjust them with any penny because roads are not being maintained yet they are collecting lots of money from the tollgates,” said Kamange.
“Perhaps, they need to justify the decision otherwise motorists should not be punished both ways―with potholed roads and at the same time paying for more.”
While not clearly indicating whether minibus owners will adjust their fares, Kamange said the burden will be shifted on to the passengers, who are already struggling with a high cost of living, among other challenges.
“Aside from the toll fees, we are also paying the road levy yet there is nothing on the ground to show for. The roads remain in dire conditions which are even contributing to vehicle breakdowns and accidents as well, yet Malawians have to be burdened by such adjustments,” he said.
Consumers Association of Malawi executive director John Kapito in a separate interview said it is worrying that motorists continue to pay toll fees, including fuel levy yet roads remain in dilapidated conditions.
“The tollgate fees, just like the road levy, are paid for maintenance and construction of roads. Consumers are entitled to be informed periodically on the usage of such funds,” he said.
“Unfortunately, in Malawi, that is never the case. What is even more worrying is that after paying through the tollgates and the fuel levy, consumers continue to witness poor roads with impassable potholes.”
