Malawi president vows to tackle fuel crisis, hunger and violence

Lilongwe – Malawi’s president Lazarus Chakwera on Wednesday announced measures to tackle a fuel crisis and hunger, while condemning political violence in the country.

Earlier this year, the east African nation declared a state of disaster in 23 of its 28 districts after a drought destroyed crops, threatening 5.7 million people with hunger.

In a televised address, Chakwera recognised “the need to prioritise food security,” but also asked the nation to support “measures to cut spending”.

He said the government would announce austerity measures due to fiscal pressures over the country’s “debt situation.”

The president thanked the international community for providing funds to address the food crisis but said more aid was needed.

“We still have 1.2 million affected people who are still waiting for their turn to receive support,” said the 69-year-old, who was elected in 2020.

He also addressed a lingering fuel crisis that has affected the nation for weeks after a lack of foreign exchange interrupted supplies.

The petrol shortages increased the cost of transportation, with a knock-on effect on the prices of essential goods and food in a country where 70 percent of people live in extreme poverty.

“It is time for us to take a different approach,” Chakwera said, explaining that the government would start procuring fuel by arrangement with other governments.

“As a first step in pursuing this, I have accepted an invitation from the President of the United Arab Emirates… to discuss this and other matters for the long-term fuel security of our country.”

Fuel protests 

On Monday, a protest was organised in the capital Lilongwe to demand the resignation of the energy minister over the fuel crisis, among other grievances.

The demonstration was disrupted by dozens of masked men armed with machetes and clubs before police intervened with tear gas.

The president condemned “emerging incidents of political violence” including “demonstrators being intimidated in Lilongwe”.

“These things will take our country nowhere, and I am calling on the Malawi Police Service to do its job of investigating every incident of political violence and bringing suspects to book,” he said.

Finally, Chakwera urged Malawians to participate in an ongoing registration exercise for September 2025 elections, as some people have been reluctant to do so.

Opposition parties have expressed concern that a proposed electronic system could rig the vote in favour of the ruling Malawi Congress Party.

“Voting in our elections is your constitutional right,” the president said. “You should never surrender your constitutional rights for any reason.”