Opposition leaders, CSOs slam fuel hikes

By Michael Martin//MALAWI

● Nankhumwa says economic assault on ordinary Malawians
● CDEDI calls on MERA officials to learn from regional fuel management models
● Experts raise alarm over fuel and electricity price hikes

Opposition leaders and civil society organizations  (CSOs) have jointly criticised the recent fuel and utility price hikes by warning that the increases will worsen the cost of living and calling on the government and regulators to adopt more people centred and transparent economic policies.

In a statement released on Wednesday, President of the People’s Development Party (PDP), Kondwani Nankhumwa has strongly condemned the recent fuel price hike, describing it as an economic attack on ordinary Malawians.

The Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) on Tuesday announced a sharp increase in fuel prices across the country.

Petrol prices have risen from K3,499 to K4,965 per litre, while diesel has jumped from K3,500 to K4,945 per litre.

The increase represents one of the steepest fuel adjustments in recent years.

Nankhumwa warned that the hike will have devastating ripple effects on the economy.

He said transport costs, food prices and production expenses are expected to rise sharply.

According to Nankhumwa, the combined effect of these increases will push more Malawians deeper into poverty.

He accused the government of abandoning its campaign promises to protect livelihoods.

“The government has moved from protecting citizens to punishing them through harsh economic policies,” he said.

Nankhumwa stressed that fuel is a key driver of economic activity and any sudden increase hurts the poorest first.

He has since called on the government to immediately review and reduce fuel prices.

The PDP leader also urged authorities to engage key stakeholders before implementing such measures.

Agsin, Umodzi Party president Thomas Wezzi Kaumba has accused the government of worsening the cost of living.

Kaumba was speaking to journalists in Blantyre on Tuesday.

He said the increase in fuel prices is already causing pain among ordinary citizens.

Kaumba pointed out that minibus fares have started rising in response to the fuel hike.

He described the situation as disappointing, especially given government assurances made earlier.

“They told us they had the capacity to fix things, but Malawians are now suffering,” said Kaumba.

The party noted that fuel prices have increased by 41 percent.

Electricity tariffs have also been adjusted upward by 12 percent.

According to Kaumba, the combined increases will place an unbearable burden on vulnerable Malawians.

He urged citizens not to remain silent when policies negatively affect their lives.

“It is important to speak out when things go wrong,” he said.

The Umodzi Party has  also called on the government to prioritize the welfare of Malawians in all economic decisions.

But the Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) has called on senior officials from the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) to study how fuel management is handled in other African countries, such as Kenya.

CDEDI Executive Director Sylvester Namiwa said this would help Malawi find lasting solutions to its persistent fuel challenges.

Namiwa described the continued fuel problems in Malawi as deeply disappointing.

He said it is unfortunate that Malawi continues to struggle with fuel availability and pricing.

According to Namiwa, several neighbouring and regional countries have managed fuel issues more effectively.

He cited Kenya as one example where fuel supply systems are relatively stable.

Namiwa believes Malawi can benefit from studying such models.

He said learning from other countries does not mean copying blindly but adapting best practices.

The CDEDI boss argued that fuel is the backbone of economic activity.

He warned that unstable fuel pricing negatively affects transport, agriculture and manufacturing.

Namiwa said ordinary Malawians always bear the brunt of fuel price increases.

He added that rising fuel costs translate directly into higher food prices.

Transport operators have already started adjusting fares in response to the hike. This, he said, puts additional pressure on households already struggling with high living costs.

Namiwa questioned whether MERA adequately consults stakeholders before making such decisions.

He stressed the importance of transparency in fuel pricing mechanisms.

According to him, public trust is eroded when price hikes come without clear explanations.

Namiwa urged MERA to engage civil society, the private sector, and consumers more meaningfully.

He said such engagement would help build consensus around difficult economic decisions.

The CDEDI executive director also called for policy reforms in the energy sector.

He said Malawi needs long-term strategies rather than short-term price adjustments.

Namiwa argued that benchmarking with countries like Kenya could improve regulatory efficiency.

He said exposure visits for MERA officials could enhance technical capacity.

According to Namiwa, fuel challenges in Malawi are not only economic but also governance-related.

He stressed that good governance is key to sustainable energy management.

Namiwa said institutions must be proactive rather than reactive.

He warned that repeated fuel hikes risk triggering social unrest.

He called on government authorities to take public concerns seriously.

Namiwa also appealed to policymakers to prioritise the welfare of citizens.

He said energy policies should aim at cushioning vulnerable populations.

Namiwa said failure to address fuel challenges holistically could slow economic growth.

He urged MERA to adopt a regional outlook in its policy formulation.

According to him, regional cooperation can help stabilise fuel markets.

Namiwa reiterated that Malawi does not exist in isolation.

He said learning from successful models is a sign of responsible leadership.

CDEDI has since pledged to continue advocating for fair, transparent, and sustainable fuel pricing policies.

Speaking in an interview, Political analyst Wonderful Mkhutche said the fuel hike reflects deeper structural problems in economic planning.

Mkhutche warned that without social protection measures, public frustration could escalate.

“Fuel prices affect everything from transport to food security and the government must manage this carefully,” he said.

Mkhutche said the situation highlights the absence of a clear economic cushioning strategy.

He warned that rising utility and fuel costs could slow economic recovery efforts.

In his remarks, Good governance expert George Chaima echoed similar concerns.

Chaima noted that policy decisions should balance economic realities with citizen welfare.

He said transparency and stakeholder engagement are critical in times of economic hardship.

Chaima said frequent price hikes erode public trust in leadership.

He emphasized that people-centered decision making is essential for sustainable governance.

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