Abnormal long queues that are order of the day
* Queues become over 2kms long anticipating that MERA’s published schedule would materialise but to no avail
* While forex is indeed a problem, the supply chain and logistics management is exercebating the situation
By Duncan Mlanjira
The public suspect that the fuel delivery schedule which Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) publishes on daily basis could just be a make believe as if the distribution is being normalised.
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This was observed when a motorist posted on Facebook, who wrote: “In the course of enduring this fuel crisis, probably the longest we have experienced in living memory, I feel the shambolic distribution logistics and lack of accountability are further worsening the situation.
“Honestly, people are getting a raw deal as if they’ll get the fuel for free. From Monday or Tuesday I’ve seen motorists queue, day and night at the PUMA Chichiri Service Station (pa Shoprite ) in the hope that there’ll be a delivery.
“On Thursday, that’s yesterday, the expectations were heightened by the fact that a MERA delivery schedule included the station — but it ended up being another vain wait.
The queue for fuel at Chichiri Shopping Mall at dawn today
“The situation is the same at scores of stations nationwide where people are made to wait in vain with no information.
“This morning I joined the queue at PUMA Chichiri around 5:20am and learnt from those who spent the night here that indications yesterday were that the tanker would deliver ‘anytime’.
“It’s the ‘anytime’ that is the problem. Time is money. MERA should compel the oil marketing companies like PUMA Energy, TotalEnergies Marketing, Petroda Malawi, Engen, Energem and all to provide estimated delivery time.
“Surely, we can’t keep queuing like headless chickens…Pali zambiri zoti tichite towards MW2063 [national vision]. Ma targets ndi awa akutigwa kalewa.”
The response to the post was that MERA’s delivery schedule could might as well be treated as a make believe, to indicate like all is well, “but truth will always be out, can’t be suppressed”.
Rhodrick Junaid Kalumpha responded to the post, saying he observed the same pattern: “While forex is indeed a problem, the supply chain and logistics management is exercebating the situation. We have incompetent people running the show.”
Meanwhile, Minister of Information & Communication, Shadric Namalomba, told The Nation newspaper that Malawians should wait for two years more for the economy to stabilise — meaning the fuel scarcity is bound to continue in unforeseeable future.
He blamed the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) administration for creating the economic crisis, which the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) ousted from the government in September last year.
Namalomba was reacting to UTM Party President Dalitso Kabambe’s post yesterday on his official Facebook account, addressed to the country’s, saying: “It is time to stop taking Malawians for granted.
“The patience of our people is wearing thin, and the hardship they face is impossible to ignore.
Families are hungry; fuel supplies are unreliable; water is erratic, hospitals and health centres are short of essential medicines.
“This crisis is hurting far more than households. Businesses and the productive sector are struggling, tax revenues are under pressure, and the damage is spreading through the economy.
“If urgent action is not taken, the consequences will deepen — and more people may lose their jobs.
“Our people need more than explanations — they need decisive leadership, honest communication, and practical action.
“Please face the nation, acknowledge the seriousness of the situation, and tell Malawians clearly what is being done — and when they can expect relief,” wrote Kabambe.
UTM Party President Dalitso Kabambe
The UTM Party President thus offered some advice, by asking the authorities to send special envoys to Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states and other friends “of goodwill to seek assistance”.
“Malawi has stood with others; we should not hesitate to ask our brothers and sisters for help in return,” he said. “This calls for high-level delegations representing both government and the ruling party, united in purpose and ready to engage constructively.
“We cannot continue like this. The suffering is real, the economic cost is growing, and the patience of the people is not limitless.
“Malawi’s leadership must act with urgency, humility, and compassion — before this crisis causes even greater harm.”
After Namalomba’s response, Kabambe reacted by saying: “Seeking answers from APM is not disrespect — it’s accountability.
“It’s strange how questioning the President gets twisted into disloyalty, while ministers praise his ‘wise and dynamic leadership’ whenever a project succeeds.
“But when things go wrong, suddenly that leadership disappears. You can’t claim credit when it suits you and hide behind the President when it doesn’t.
“Malawians deserve answers — not selective amnesia. Anzanga mwagona mu ma filling station, tizathetsa tokha mavuto amenewa…Nanga zikuyenda pamenepa?”
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