Malawi claims on fuels shortage are ‘lies’ –Mozambique
Mozambican port managers have denied claims by Malawi that the current shortage of fuel in that country is due to congestion in the Mozambican ports of Nacala and Beira.
Two managers of Beira and Nacala ports, Carlos Mesquita and Fernando Couto, described the claims as “lies”, when interviewed by Radio Mozambique on Monday.
Anyone with the slightest knowledge of the port of Nacala is well aware that its main problem is not congestion, but the exact opposite – chronic under-use. Nacala is regarded as the best deep water port on the east African coast. It does not need to be dredged and ships of any size can dock there.
It could certainly take tankers carrying fuel to Malawi – if the Malawians could pay for it. And this seems to be the real problem.
Fernando Couto, who is the Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Development Corridor (CDN), which runs the Nacala port and rail system, told the radio that the real cause of Malawi’s fuel problems is that Malawi is short of foreign currency.
“The Malawians have even asked us to lend them fuel”, Couto revealed. He stressed that tankers are always granted priority in docking. Certainly, CDN has no interest in sabotaging the supply of fuel to Malawi – for when there is no fuel flowing from Nacala to Malawi, CDN does not receive the port and rail fees for that cargo.
Mesquita, the CEO of Cornelder Mozambique, the consortium which runs the port of Beira, also categorically denied the Malawian claims.
Although there are limitations on the size of ship that can dock at Beira, the port is not congested. “There must be some other motive”, said Mesquita.
just release the foes and pay for the fuel, basi nkhani yatha; mwatani kodi a malawi govt?
according to sadc news, e problem started in zambia when their oil refinery developed a fault which started 3 weeks ago, and zambian gvt has ordered the pvt companies in zambia to bring refined fuel straight to zambia instead of their usual crude oil. that has created the shortage of fuel ku TZ and Moz ports as zambia is importing 25million ltrs of fuel this month. until zambia starts refining crude oil in zambia this problem will continue.
A Detective, mufuna mutiuze chani poti nkhani mukulimbikirayo a ku Mozambique ayikana.You write like you are writing to kids. The issue is that of forex period. You still live in Kamuzu era when people used to believe that when they are alone in a toilet and they use a newspaper with Kamuzu’s face he would be seeing them and they would be arrested.
Bingu, why are you telling us lies?
Bingu tells lies knowing that Malawians are dumb, deaf and blind to speak, hear and see and make sound judgement about the damn leadership. What a pity!
nkhani yeni yeni ndi imeneyi.Osati kumangotithila phula mmaso amvekele atukula malawi.You are messing MW up
Ndi zimenezo zayambika. Lets see how Mose Wa Lero will solve this jix. He closed the forex bureaus, he chased the tobacco farmers, he shouted at the IMF and World Bank when they suggested a devaluation. Lets see now who has the last laugh.
This man is too stubborn at times. No third world country can claim to be more intelligent than the World Bank & IMF. We may be more educated than some of their economists but the fact remains that we are at their mercy. Lets respect them. Read a book called “The Economic Hitman” and you will appreciate what I am saying here.
These two bodies are owned by the major world donors and its madness for one to castigate the IMF & World bank while at the same time stretch a begging hand to the donor countries. Mugabe tried it and you know the price he had to pay. Please save Malawi from such.
shut up, kuchuluka zowuwawuwa..thats e problem not the nyasa story.
http://www.southerntimesafrica.com/article.php?title=Zambia_hit_by_fuel_shortage&id=3216
LUSAKA – The Zambian government has waived duty on imported fuel to tackle a nationwide fuel shortage.
Zambia’s President Ru piah Banda on Wednesday also directed all border posts in the country to expressly clear oil tankers and instructed security wings to provide escort to trucks to ensure timely delivery of fuel.na zvi
Last week, government announced a 25 percent waiver on fuel imports to allow Oil Marketing Com panies (OMCs) to quickly import the commodity at a cheaper price but the suspension of duty did lit tle to avert the crisis.
According to govern ment, the fuel shortage was caused by a catalyst breakdown at the coun try’s only oil refinery com pany, Indeni, which forced the plant to shut-down earlier than expected be fore it was due for service.
The fuel shortage has led to winding queues of motorists at service sta tions as people try to fill empty fuel tanks.
A check by Southern Times in the capital, Lu saka, on Wednesday, found motorists queuing up at service stations thought to be earmarked for pet rol supplies, while other service stations that had completely no stocks were abandoned.
Drivers in some cases were forced to walk to fill ing stations and line- up with containers to buy the commodity after their cars ran out.
“This is absolutely ri diculous, I spent five hours in the queue yesterday and just when I thought that I was getting nearer to buy ing petrol, I was told they had run out. The little that I was left with ran out on my way to work this morn ing. Now I have to line up with a container, I don’t know how many hours I will be here,” complained Kasanda Chisenga, a Lusaka motorist.
Despite the seemingly volatile situation, Energy Minister Kenneth Konga had earlier in the week insisted on the availability of enough fuel supplies and called for a probe into what he claimed was a scam to divert fuel.
He told local media that government had com menced investigations to establish the continued shortage of fuel in Lusaka and other parts of the coun try, even after offloading sufficient stocks on the market:
“As far as the govern ment is concerned, there is enough fuel in Lusaka. The question is where are the stocks?” Konga asked.
Over 400, 000 litres of fuel had been offloaded onto the market on Monday, while a further 350,000 li tres of petrol was expected in Lusaka by Tuesday.”
The minister advised motorists to avoid panic buying of the commodity claiming there was no fuel crisis.
Government had hired Independent Petroleum Group (IPG) of Kuwait and Dalbit Petroleum of Kenya to import 50 million litres of diesel and 30 million litres of petrol to ensure there were adequate stocks during the shutdown of Indeni Refinery.
In addition, govern ment also asked the OMCs to import 20 million litres of diesel and 11 million litres of petrol and waived 25 percent import duty on fuel for two weeks to facilitate the exercise.
Last week, the Zam bian government also re quested the Zimbabwean government to keep the Chirundu border open after 1800 hours but de spite all these measures motorists are yet to see any changes.
Do we buy gasoline from Zambia? Gasoline importations have no interactions with Zambian soil let alone its government system. Why then are you bringing this nonsense. Malawi is not Zambia. What are you trying to justify and exhonorate. Mr Detective dont be stupid. We cannot smile at nosense. The truth is what Nyasatimes has revealed period.
bwana detective, mwafotokoza bwino za ku Zambiazo, tamvetsetsa. tsopano kambani zaku Malawi zimene tikukambirana panozi
Amwene, in case you were not yet born, Kenneth Kaunda bashed these two bodies and he survived without them for some years
Even the Mocambican ordinary port managers know that we have no forex? OMG, Bingu kukula mtima kwake kutipweteketsa. For how long is this cosmetic exchange late going to last? Economix yake akugwiritsa ntchito iti, poti both orthodox and heterodox econs would let the market forces determine the value of the dollar in the current circumstances.
Komatu boma ili… I think silimaliza all the 5 years. Amalawi amakwiyatu mukawaonjeza…!!!
Country Rat:”Mafuta ndiye avuta”
Town Rat: “Eee chifukwa cha zisankho ku Mozanbiques”
Radio Mozambique”Elections have nothing to do with with fuel scarcity in Malawi.”
Town and Country Rat:Nanga zenizeni ndi ziti abale>’
Muthalika pigheaded to stop forex flows to Malawi. Chased the Tobacco buyers. Challenging IMF, and the jackass dream of Nsanje Port. This is just the beginning a Malawi. Amene amasusa aja asusenso apa this jackass dream will never come true.
From the look of things, the malawian problem is not really linked to the zambian problem.And why should the mozambican guys lie? They have nothing to gain. So surely the truth have been “coated” here. Panukhapo apa basi!!!
All the money went to Mulhako. Fellow Malawians, if you are stll living in that country I urge you to migrate and leave that third world country to Mulhako people
Chimwemwe, do you really believe all the money went to Mulakho wa Alomwe???? And do you really believe it is possible for every living person to migrate out of Malawi?? Some comments speak much about our ignorance.