The Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) says it has resolved grievances raised by tanker truck drivers regarding their welfare by allocating 85 percent of contractual fuel volumes to Malawian transporters and establishing offices at loading ports.
Mera and the drivers under the banner of the Bulk Vehicle Operators Trade Union (Bvotu), have since announced that the planned sit-in, which was scheduled to start today, has been called off.
The union wrote the regulator, complaining about prolonged delays at loading ports in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, as well as Nacala and Beira in Mozambique, which were affecting their welfare.
They also complained that foreign transporters were being favoured and were transporting larger volumes of fuel than Malawian transporters.
To address these grievances, Mera convened a multi-stakeholder meeting yesterday, which included officials from the Ministry of Energy and Mining as well as the Ministry of Transport and Public Works.
The regulator has since allocated 85 percent of the fuel supply volume for the current year to Malawian transporters.
Mera has also established an office in Beira and another office is expected to be set up in Dar es Salaam by April 30 2026 to improve fuel loading efficiency.
“Based on the above agreement, the planned industrial action has been called off,” reads a statement signed by Mera chief executive officer Dad Chinthambi and Bvotu general secretary Mathews Sibale.
Sibale confirmed in an interview yesterday that they had reached an agreement with stakeholders and that the strike has been called off.
On Sunday, Bvotu chairperson Boko Mkandawire told The Nation that the strike had been shifted to April 15 to allow time for negotiations among the concerned parties.
According to him, drivers sometimes wait up to two months to load fuel, while foreign drivers load more frequently.
Currently, Malawi is already experiencing fuel shortages, forcing motorists to wait in queues for hours to purchase the commodity.
