Hard times for Malawians as costs of living soars
Malawians have to cough deeper into their pockets, as thicost of living has gone, Nyasa Times basket survey reveals.
Nyasa Times reporters conducted prices check in big supermarkets like Shoprite, Chipiku, PTC and Sana shops in the commercial city of Malawi, Blantyre to find out the prices of goods.
A visit at Sana Shop, It was revealed that a packet of sugar is being sold at K295.00 with Chombe tea 500g at K350.00 while a family pride salt of 2 kg is pegged at K245.00.
Other basic needs like Lifebuoy 85g is now at K140.00 while K250g Geisha will require Malawians to pay K220.00.
At Limbe Shoprite, Kazinga cooking oil of 5L will require Malawians to cough about K4919.99 while 2L of the same Kazinga cooking oil is now at K1, 149.99. Another brand of cooking oil, Kukoma
of 5L is K3, 699.99 while 2L is K1, 679.99.
Next to Shoprite Shop is PTC, where goods are much higher comparing to the rest of the big shops. A loaf of Bread, which is at K220.00 a Stork Magarine of 1kg, one needs to have an extra K1, 074.00.
Milk is at K1, 400 for a 500g. But Fresh milk for Dairibord of 500ml is at K120.00.
Toiletries have also become expensive with a 100ml Colgate at K300.00. A 1kg Surf is now being sold at K880.00.
A visit at Chipiku Shop, Nyasa Times find out that a Malawian is supposed to cough K410 for a 250g Vaseline. Surf 2kg is K1, 628.00 while 15 U-Fresh soap costs K895.
Sobo Orange Squash 2L is now at K405.00.
Recently, President Bingu wa Mutharika promised Malawians that his government will not bow down to calls to devalue the kwacha, arguing that goods will be hiked.
However, on the ground it seems the story looks different as goods are being hiked almost.
Consumers who spoke to Nyasa Times in the cities of Blantyre and Lilongwe, Malawians cried foul over the increase of good.
Josephine Kadangwe, from Manja township said it was unfortunate that goods are being hiked almost every week when salaries remain the same.
“Things are being increased almost every week yet our salaries remain the same. Ask civil servants how much they receive comparing with the prices of many basic needs. It is pathetic and something needs to be done,” said Kadangwe, who was shopping goods at Shoprite.
Moffat Mwenyemasi said despite government claiming that the kwacha has not been devalued it was surprising that prices of goods have been increased.
“When they say they cannot devalue the kwacha in order to protect us l do not get it. Things have already being hiked and we do not even see any sense by saying the kwacha will not be devalued to protect us,” he said.
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