Following the sharp fuel price hike that took effect on 1 April 2026, the Centre for Democracy and Economic Development Initiatives (CDEDI) and the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) have issued an urgent call for government action to protect Malawians from economic distress.
The increase, which was announced on Tuesday night by the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA), saw petrol and diesel prices surge by about 34 percent, with petrol now selling at K6,672 per litre and diesel at K6,687 per litre. The hike comes amid rising VAT, new mobile money taxes, and stagnant incomes, leaving households and businesses struggling to cope.
Speaking at a joint press briefing in Lilongwe, the organizations described the increase as a “shockwave” threatening livelihoods, noting that fuel remains the heartbeat of the economy and any sharp hike immediately pushes up transport, food, and production costs.
CDEDI and HRDC pointed to long-standing governance and procurement failures as major drivers of high fuel costs. They criticized the abandonment of the previous Government-to-Government (G2G) fuel procurement system in favor of an Open Tender System.
“That model was designed to stabilize prices, reduce procurement costs, and eliminate inflated margins by enabling direct access to oil-producing countries. By abandoning that arrangement, government has placed Malawians at the mercy of middlemen and volatile markets, and cost-inflating actors,” said the organizations.
They also highlighted the opacity surrounding the Price Stabilisation Fund (PSF), which has not cushioned consumers against the spike.
The organizations are demanding that government take urgent steps to reduce the burden on Malawians, including temporary reduction or suspension of fuel levies and taxes.
The organizations also want the government to publicly disclose the status and utilization of the PSF and explain why it was not deployed during this crisis, while presenting a clear, time-bound strategy to stabilize fuel prices and prevent sudden future hikes. MERA has also been told to also outline how it plans to protect consumers and ensure predictable pricing going forward.
CDEDI and HRDC warned that Malawians are already struggling to afford transport, move produce, and sustain businesses.
“The time to act is now,” the statement says. “Malawians deserve leaders who stand with them, not systems that enrich the few at the expense of the majority.”
