Malawi fuel increase by 28 % is ‘sad moment for consumers’
Vocal consumer rights activist and executive director for Consumers Association of Malawi (CAMA), John Kapito, has condemned the increase of petrol, diesel, paraffin and liquid petroleum gas prices–describing the development as a sad moment for consumers.
Kapito said this in his immediate reaction to new prices for petroleum products announced Wednesday evening by Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) in the Capital, Lilongwe, at a news conference.
The consumer activist actually attended the news conference in person.
MERA has attributed the increase to fuel landing costs and the depreciation of the Kwacha by 3.37 percent since May this year.
The increase comes after MERA last conducted a review of the fuel prices in May–which was actually a downward adjustment of the prices and led to celebration among citizens.
MERA Consumer Affairs and Public Relations Manager, Fitina Khonje, told reporters that the new prices are with effect from Wednesday midnight.
“Petrol has been increased from K690. 50 to K834. 60 representing 20.87 percent, diesel has been increased from K664. 80 to K826. 40 representing 24.31 percent and paraffin from K441. 70 to K613. 20 representing 38.83 percent.
“The combination of increased Free On Board (FOB) prices on the international market and the poor performance of the kwacha against the United States Dollar and South African Rand, has made it necessary for us to adjust upward the prices for petroleum products,” she said, citing a statement signed by board chairperson for MERA Leonard Chikadya.
However, Kapito, while agreeing with MERA over the causes of the price increase noticed sometime back, argued that this “exorbitant” increase could have been avoided especially if the regulator reviewed the prices monthly as is required by the law.
“This announcement has delayed for a long time. No wonder, the increase is so huge that it will badly affect consumers. It is quite a sad day.
“Consumers will definitely react for it is expected that this will lead to increases of various goods and products on the market. If MERA had reviewed the fuel prices monthly, starting immediately after June, the increases could have been gradual and not exert too much impact on consumers,” said Kapito.
He further placed the blame on the late reconstitution of the board of MERA, saying the board’s absence for some months–made MERA not able to handle crucial things such as these petroleum products price reviews.
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Foseki
Infact petrol and diesel are still cheaper in Malawi than in The UK. Now as for the Landing cost its time for the malawi government to build a crude oil pipe line. Zambia has a pipe line from Dar es salaam.
We can learn from them. Or even have an agreement to join or connect our pipe at Tunduma.
Another alternative is to use Railway line than using Road Tankers.
And this all one week before Christmas, what a gift! We really fail to applaud you Tonse! Where are all this empty promises, three meals a day, 1 million jobs in the first year, universal fertiliser subsidy? I cry for you tonse and your leaders, you have really nothing to offer in 2020!
Ngati onse ogwira ntchito mukulira, kuli bwanji Ife a chimizimizi? Ma minibus fare anakwera nthawi COVID itafika Kumene. Mtengo wa transport fare pa K2500 unafika pa K3500 chomwecho mafuta atatsika. Mitengo ya katundu ikweranso. Pepani nkhalamba zathu, kuzunzika nkosayamba.
It is sad indeed. We will see hike in everything from transport to basic food. It’s a shame.
Where are HRDC idiots. They were so quick to react to DPP actions, but they are pretending to be snoring when Tonse is messing us up. Useless idiots. I am not surprised Trapence is from the Central region and he hated leadership of this nation from the South. He is tribalist.
Mkamati Tax free band mmanena izizi kodi?
Zamanyi zokhazokha basi.
Pomazatha 5yrs tiyembekedzere mtengo wanji?
Mafuta sangakwere Arafat Nchilima alipo. Lero wagwa nayo Tonse alliance yagwa mmadzi nanga pozafika 2024
Kodi iwe timothy mtambo tufuna mademo kuno, boma ili sizedi
We woudn’t worry about the increase but rather celebrating coz the time to get prepared is fast approaching for the Messiah to take only those who are righteous
The unfortunate part is that akweza kwambiri at one goal. As Kapito has noted, the government should have done it gradually nanga chonchi mwatipwetekatu. Galimoto tingopachikatu basi.
Now to those who are planning to increase prices, will someone remind me if the prices were reduced when the fuel prices were reduced from K930 to K690 in July thereabout.