Fuel pump prices up again: Malawi should brace for tough times

March 8, 2021 Alfred Chauwa - Nyasa Times 55 Comments

Despite the fact that Covid-19 pandemic has affected people’s economic lives Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) has announced it has raised the prices of paraffin, diesel and petrol.

Motorists will have to dig deeper for petroleum products

Mera public relations officer Fitina Khonje says petrol is now at K899 from K834 which is a 7.34 percent increase.

Diesel has gone up from K826 to K898, representing 8.66 percent hike, according to Mera.

Paraffin, used mostly by industry and the majority of poor households in the country, price per litter  is now k719 from K613.

Mera says the new prices are effective 12 midnight.

“The price of fuel has been rising at global level hence the decision,” said Khonje.

Mera also attributed the weakening of the local currency, Kwacha to have contributed to new price hikes.

Mera director of economic regulations Chimwemwe Dunkalo said there are several factors which drives fuel prices.

Last time the prices went up, there were violent protests by minibus operators who wanted to raise fares to catch up with the covid-19 strict measures on sitting plan in their buses.

The cost of fuel has a significant impact on the pricing of goods and services; hence, Malawians—already reeling from the pressure of reduced buying power and a depreciating kwacha—will likely be affected by the fuel prices hike, according to Chancellor College-based economist Ben Kaluwa.

He said Malawi depends 100 percent on petroleum products for production—for instance, in agriculture and manufacturing industries “and a hike on petroleum products will surely have an impact and a trickle-down effect on the economy.”

Economic observers said the price hike was an indicator of worst things to come.

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
Follow us in Twitter

55 replies on “Fuel pump prices up again: Malawi should brace for tough times”

  1. Fuel has gone up everywhere. Nothing political. So far Malawi is the most democratic african country.

  2. Shame we are lost the way to Canaan really is what people was expected this is too it’s better that 6.2b ija akanapanga subsidy to this fuel thing than eat few people I said it running government is a serious business

  4. You did chaotic demonstrations crying for this government, why are you crying now?You got what u demonstrated for with flying colors!Enjoy ur trip to kanani? Canaan in this 21 st century? What a shame! Grind your teeth! Supporters of black chicken & zibagela/Osawopa!

  6. This proce rise has nothing to do with politics. Brent Crude Oil is up from $39 in October 2020 to $68 yesterday. Nothing to do with DPP, MCP, Malawi chani chani. Phuma a Malawi.

    1. Do you think majority common Malawians know or understand this?

      Malawians want improvement in their daily lives. What you are saying is of less importance to them.

    3. That’s true Petrol prices have increased all over the world and not just Malawi. The last time dpp decreased the price because petrol prices reduced throughout the world due to the Middle East and trump politics and deals. Nothing to do with Malawi government

  10. I love mcp and I was very happy that they are in government and still love tose,but I think there were good on oppossion not to governor a dpp atitseka tinakuuzani ife,inu zoona mpakana tiyambe kukumbuka Pitala? MR Chilima what are you doing where are all those good things u promised us thick about anthu osagwira tchito where they gonna get money to buy there dairy needs

    1. Chonde a MCP, muthandizeni munthuyu. wasoweratu chochita mpaka kulemba chizungu chothyokathyoka. Shaaa!

  11. The writing was on the wall that these are inexperienced and cannot be trusted to govern. But we could not listen. Now we are doomed. No future with this government

  12. U dont have to worry about the increase of what we call fuel and other commodities because these are going to happen, or you need to know is we are nearing home, our father is calling every one of us to His heavenly sanctuary, if we focus much on this earth we will cry and cry. These increase will one day for us to SUNDAY LAW

    1. Good things can happen in Malawi if we keep on fighting those things what frustrated us

    1. So you think global oil prices will magically go down because you’ve removed a political party in our small country? And people wonder why Malawians are poor. Ayayaya.

  15. I live in the united states and petrol goes up almost every day.within one week it has gone from $2.45 to $2.85 and when we wake up we may see a different price tag.

    2. Useless, not worth telling us. Most idiotic comment I have ever seen. This government is full of shit

    3. Malawi’s minimum wage is K137.50 while the US is K5713.00 per hour. Please do your poor arithmetics

    6. U earn 3000 USD above per month , and u get minimum 15 USD per hours
      U tell us this ?

    7. And you are worried with an increase in cents? Do you think we can be worried if our prices can increase in tambala? And you are comparing 2.45 to 834? which is bigger? You are in one digit while we are in three digits showing that we are poor than your country. Use logic my friend. Next time do not comment since you will not pay at our pumps.

  19. Difficult times ahead 😫

    Inflation figures will go up, the rise started in Nov 2020.
    Prices of commodities will go up.

    Majority of Malawians have no money.

  20. Shall we reach Canan with these frequent rise in fuel prices? Our transport fare to reach the promised land will not be enough. We shall get stuck somewhere in the wilderness, the middle land between where we are coming from and where we are going. Fellow Malawians another fuel price rise is in the offing.

  23. In this whole thing, I see Saulosi Chilima as the most stupid person and conman. He has coiled his tail and squeezed his balls. Come out Sau and tell the nation why now you cant fuck the prices down. So disgusting!!’

  24. Our boma should stop dedicating all their energy on fighting political foes and focus on growing the economy. Anthu akuvutika kunja kuno. As soon fuel prices increase like this, the price of everything will also increase. Leave the corruption issues to relevent institutions, and focus on poverty reduction. Chakwera was elected to end poverty, dont get bogged down on minor issues like Joyce Banda.

  26. Fumbi kuti kobooooo kuthamangira ku Kasiya via Nsundwe instead of heading towards the promised land of Canaan. Chakwera is not sensitive to the challenges Malawians are facing at all. No forex in banks, high interest rates, high fuel costs, high inflation rate, low salaries etc etc and yet you say we have a president in this country? What is Lazaro really doing??

    1. After all the money the previous government s were stealing. How did you think this government would take you guys to canan Please use common sense

  29. Mxiieeew! Chineke ooh! Meanwhile salaries remain the same and some idiot wants to remove allowances. Mbuzi zamano kunsi. This Tonse government siyilimba.

  30. Komano pa paraffin po think about the poor please. Secondly, tiyambapo strike… Same people who said fuel prices tikuberedwa, lero iwo akukweza price

  33. I doubt if this country has a minister of finance and reserve bank governor. Fuel increase if 17 percent within 2 months

    1. We gave up the man who really wanted to do something for this sad country
      😭😭😭😭

      1. And western countries are cutting down aid so they can look after their own first in this COVID tough time. Let us just run to Jesus please. He provides

Comments are closed.