Yesterday, Malawians went to bed with heavy hearts after hearing disappointing news by the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) that the prices of fuel have gone up following the depreciation of the Malawi Kwacha.
During a press briefing by MERA Authorities in the Capital Lilongwe, it has been announced that the new price of petrol effective midnight, last night, is now at K834.60 per litre from K690.50 per litre representing a 20.87% price increase, diesel is now sold at K826. 40 per litre from K664.80 per litre representing 24.31% price increase and the price of Paraffin has also gone up from K441.70 per litre to K613.20 per litre representing a 38.83% increase.
The development has received negative reaction from the people considering that the fuel prices hike has come at a time when people are heading to festive season.
Malawians on social media have labeled the Tonse Alliance administration which is being led by Malawi Congress Party’s (MCP) leader Lazarus Chakwera and his Vice Saulos Chilima of United Transformation Movement (UTM) as liars arguing that they are failing to live by their promises during the campaign period.
Others have even surfaced the video of Chilima who rebuked the then ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) when they raised fuel prices earlier this year in which he said they are plotting to steal from poor Malawians and demanded them to stop.
According the disgruntled Malawians, Tonse Alliance government is of no difference with the DPP administration as they also raised the fuel prices in silence just as Chilima accused the DPP led government.
Others questioned the rationale for the price hike by the Tonse Alliance administration whilst recalling what Chilima said during the campaign period who promised to reduce fuel prices to as low as K500 per litre.
Not only Malawians have spoken out their grievances on the fuel price hike, economists have also commented on the development.
A social commentator Humphrey Mvula collaborates public fears that prices of goods and services will likely go up.
President of the Economics Association of Malawi (ECAMA) Lauryn Nyasulu shares similar sentiments, arguing that consumers will bear the blunt of the fuel price hike in their daily purchases.
Consumers Association of Malawi (CAMA and the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) are yet to make the statements on the developing story.
