JB orders reversal of Malawi fuel prices, barnstorms Mzimba
Malawi President Mrs. Joyce Banda is reported to have orders Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mere) not to implement the adjusted fuel prices with one liter of petrol at K570.20 from K539.
MERA on Wednesday announced the price hike, representing a 5.79 percent.
But motorists were surprised to still pay old fuel prices with sources saying President directed the reversal of the prices as she feared political repercussions, in view of the two bye-elections in Mzimba on Tuesday.
The elections will be the first political test for her governing People’s Party (PP).
But some suppliers were reportedly hoarding fuel in view of the impending price hikes and the commodity was still in short supply in many parts of the country on Thursday.
Barnstorms Mzimba
Meanwhile, President Banda will on Friday travel to Edingeni in Mzimba South-west Constituency where she will address PP final by-election campaign rally.
On Saturday morning, the Head of State will preside over the ‘Bible Week’ opening ceremony at Mzimba Community Centre Ground before addressing PP’s final by-election campaign rally in the afternoon at Euthini in Mzimba Central Constituency.
There are by-elections in these constituencies slated for October 9, 2012. The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) officially launched the by-elections for Mzimba South-west and Mzimba Central constituencies, simultaneously, August 1, 2012.
The Mzimba Central Constituency fell vacant following the death of its parliamentarian, Professor Donton Mkandawire while Mzimba Southwest became vacant following the appointment of Khumbo Kachali to the position of State Vice President.
In total, both constituencies have 62 polling centers comprised of 77 polling streams with 76,556 registered voters.
In Mzimba South-west, there are six candidates namely Aram Beza of the ruling PP, Owen Mkandawire of DPP, Anita Wezi Njolwa of Alliance for Democracy (Aford), Bonofasio Ngulube of the National Rainbow Coalition (Narc) and Joseph Mavuto Kachali (independent). The sixth candidate Denis Kandodo Mvula (independent) was not present.
The PP candidate in Mzimba Central is Raymond Nkhata. Others are DPP’s Ronald Chavula and independent candidates, James Nthara and Baxter Mazunda.
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