Pump scandal: CAMA accuses filling stations of fuelling black market as Malawians queue for hours

The Consumers Association of Malawi (CAMA) has accused filling stations of making the fuel crisis worse through corrupt practices, as motorists spend long hours in queues.

In a press release titled “The Continued Fuel Scarcity in Malawi”, made available to Nyasa Times, CAMA said stations are making distribution “erratic and unpredictable”.

“While fuel is scarce, filling stations are making the distribution erratic and unpredictable by engaging themselves in practices that create preferences among motorists through corrupt malpractices that are linked with supplies to the black market,” the statement said.

CAMA said the black market is now bigger than the formal one, with fuel selling at between K15,000 and K20,000 per litre.

Landlocked, but unprepared?

CAMA acknowledged the government’s explanation that global supply has been hit by the conflict in Iran, and that Malawi faces logistical problems.

But it argued that as a landlocked country, Malawi needs resilience systems and enough reserves at all times.

CAMA’s demands

The association called for:

• NOCMA and MERA to publish stock levels daily, including how much is in transit, which stations will be supplied, and to monitor distribution closely
• Fuel to be distributed fairly across all regions, not only to selected stations
• MERA to act against stations diverting or hoarding fuel for the black market
• The Ministry of Energy to brief Malawians on supply in the short, medium and long term
• Stronger security at filling stations, and tighter control of attendants it says are openly working with black market agents
• Official information from MERA and the ministry to prevent panic buying and hoarding
• Faster solutions, as small businesses lose income and consumers walk long distances to work because of a lack of public transport

Queues in major cities

Malawi has had intermittent fuel shortages in recent weeks, with long queues returning in Lilongwe, Blantyre, Zomba and Mzuzu.