By Mayamiko Phiri.

Umodzi party president Thomas Wezzie Kaumba has backed up a proposal that Malawi regulatory authority ( MERA) should adjust fuel pump prices to avoid a scanario of scarcity of the commodity in the near future.

Recently, the embattled consumer association of Malawi executive director Kapito told various media houses that MERA should adjust fuel pump prices at least by 30% amid economic hardships faced by many Malawians.

Kapito urged that fuel traders are purchasing the commodity at high landing cost while incurring loses.

In an interview, on Friday, 30th August,Kaumba said that if the fuel pump prices will not be adjusted, sooner the country might face fuel scarcity.

“Malawians be reminded that there was a time when MERA wanted to increase fuel prices and the late president Professor Bingu wa Mutharika refused to endorse the idea citing that most Malawians were poor, and sooner the scarcity of the commodity hits the country.” said Kaumba.

He called upon President Dr Lazarus Chakwera to look at this issue keenly, as in eventuallty that the country will have fuel shortages people will be pointing fingers at him.

Umodzi party president, while acknowledging that if the fuel prices is up, good and services prices will also go upwards and he called upon the authority’s to make sure that a lot of people are accessing Neef loans, public works programs are reaching out to many and that there is an increase of beneficiary of social cash transfer to caution the impact of good and services adjustment which may occur.

On Wednesday, August 28, 2024, opposition members of parliament walked out of the chamber, protesting against proposals to increase fuel prices.