HRDC, CDEDI demand tax reduction, suspension of levies to cushion Malawians from recent hike in fuel price
The Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) and the Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) have urged the government to reduce taxes and suspend levies on fuel to cushion Malawians from the recent price hike.
The increase in fuel prices, which has seen petrol rise to K6,672 per liter and diesel to K6,687, has sparked widespread concern and outrage among citizens, with HRDC and CDEDI lamenting the tendency by the government to pass on the burden of its own inefficiencies to the people.
“This is not just a price increase, it’s a humanitarian crisis. The government must take responsibility for its own mistakes and prioritize the welfare of its citizens,” reads a joint statement signed by HRDC National Chairperson, Michael Kaiyatsa, and Executive Director of CDEDI, Sylvester Namiwa.
Kaiyatsa and Namiwa, who also addressed journalists in Lilongwe on Thursday morning, said fuel crisis has exposed deep-seated governance issues, including corruption and inefficiencies in the fuel procurement system.
They observed that the Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF), designed to cushion consumers against price shocks, has been left untouched, raising questions about its effectiveness.
“We demand transparency and accountability in the fuel sector. The government must act now to address this crisis and prioritize the welfare of Malawians,” they said at the briefing, further calling on the government to reduce or suspend fuel levies and taxes.
Kaiyatsa and Namiwa also urged the government return to the Government-to-Government (G2G) fuel procurement arrangement, conduct a transparent audit of the fuel procurement system and develop a people-centered fuel pricing framework.
“The time for action is now. Malawians will not breathe easy until their government takes concrete steps to address the fuel crisis and prioritize their welfare,” they emphasized.
There was no immediate comment from authorities at the Capital Hill.
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