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