Malawi should reduce fuel prices – Consumer watchdog
The Consumer Association of Malawi (CAMA) on Thursday accused the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) for delay in reducing prices of fuel in response to the continued fuel prices on the International market as well as appreciation of the local currency (the Kwacha).
CAMA Executive Director John Kapito said Thursday said the authority has failed to implement the Automatic Pricing Mechanism (APM) as early as November last year.
“Malawi through MERA were supposed to reduce the pump price in November because Petroleum prices worldwide have been going down since October and recently it is our local Kwacha which is appreciating but nothing has come up from MERA,” he said.
But MERA Executive Officer, Ellias Hausi, said the authority is powerless to make decisions in absence of the board.
“Consumers in the country have to wait from government to appoint the board for them to start benefiting from the pump price reduction,” he said.
Under APM once the threshold has reached 5 per cent minus or plus, to the disadvantage of the consumer prices automatically go up while to the advantage, the prices go up on the pump.
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What is meant by AUTOMATIC? My understanding is ‘that which trigers action by itself’. So, what do we need board for?
in APM when there is a trigger someone has to take action. the law says the board not anybody else.
fuel prices are down and there are no comments? fuel was inreased early november before term of boarf expired on 20 nov. from 21 to 9 jan there wad no board at mera.
Apa ndiye walongosola.
Please forgive this man, William for he doesn’t know what he is doing or talking about!!! Kwacha appreciation or depreciation has nothing to do with the reduction or increase in fuel prices. Fuel prices have to come down simply because crude oil prices all over the world have tumbled down. Mera’s response is completely disgraceful and patronising to the people of Malawi. So we have two boards, one for price increases and the other for price reduction? And the price reduction board hasn’t yet been appointed? What a stupid and foolish explanation, mera!!! It just shows the kwacha appreciation is… Read more »
Reduce the price of fuel please
fact Mr Kapito
This MERA BOSS IS LYING. DO WE NEED BOARD MEMBERS ONLY WHEN REDUCING THE FUEL PRICE. WHO AUTHORISED THEM WHEN THE FUEL PRICE WAS INCREASED WAS THE BOARD THERE?MR BOSS PLEASE DON’T CHEAT US.UKUDZIWAPO KANTHU. TELL US. YOU ARE SO FASTER WHEN IMPLEMENTING INCREASED FUEL PRICES AND VERY RIGID WHEN IT COMES TO REDUCTION OF THE PRICE KUBA BASI
I totally agree. There are many variables at this point in time that support this call for action by Mr. Kapito. Although Mr. Kapito acts like a madman and controversial, sometimes he is very correct and rational. He is very right this time around. international prices continue to dip for sometime now and Kwacha slightly appreciated to the dollar. These two variable factors determine fuel prices everywhere in the world.
MERA and DPP you are stealing from us, fuel prices has gone down but you do not want to reduce the pump prices. People are suffering out here. APM are you a christian or satanic faith? Please listen to the crying of the people.
Za mkhutu!!!!!!!
I think William Makwama (No. 1 commentor) you are confused. What CAMA AND Mr. Kapito are saying is the MWK is appreciating against the major foreign currencies and the global fuel prices have gone down significantly. These gains are good for the Malawian, why do we say they are good, it’s because the benefits will trickle down to all Malawians through reduction in consumer prices for items like fuel and other imports. If MERA does not reduce the prices of fuel then who is benefiting from these gains? We need to start enjoying the benefits of these economic gains. And… Read more »
Ndithu chisakomele mbuzi pogunda galu,pokweza mutengo amabusines amasangalala,bwanji zikuwabvuta kusisa mutengowo?