Yet again, fuel service stations in the country have run dry. There is no petrol, no diesel. Malawians are spending days in queues, hoping to refuel but often returning home empty-handed.
This crisis has persisted for over two years. And, as if that were not enough, prolonged electricity blackouts, far exceeding the scheduled hours, have worsened the situation.
Simply put, Malawi is facing an energy crisis that demands urgent attention and concrete solutions, not excuses.
Micro-enterprises, which are already fragile, have been severely affected. The construction sector, which relies heavily on diesel to power heavy machinery, has also taken a blow. The delays caused by fuel shortages are pushing up project costs and stretching budgets beyond planned limits.
In homes and communities, where alternatives to electricity are limited or non-existent, people have resorted to using charcoal for cooking. This has accelerated deforestation, contributing to the environmental disasters we are already witnessing, erratic rainfall, drought, and land degradation.
When the new administration led by President Peter Mutharika was sworn in on October 4 2025 following their victory in the September 16 General Election, Malawians were promised swift and decisive action. However, the response has been sluggish with the authorities appearing to be crawling, neither providing a clear explanation of the situation nor offering hope that real solutions are underway.
While we appreciate that some of these challenges were indeed inherited from the previous administration, the Democratic Progressive Party has now been in power for a month and it must start taking ownership of the situation. These energy problems are not new as while they were in opposition, the current government was aware of them and should, therefore, have been ready with immediate interventions.
It is our appeal to the government to treat the energy crisis as a matter of national emergency. Everything else it hopes to achieve, economic growth, job creation, and improved service delivery, depends on a steady supply of energy. Without it, people, goods, and services cannot move. Without energy, there is no work.
