The Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (C.C.A.P.) has expressed deep concern over Malawi’s deteriorating socio-economic conditions, warning that the situation has gone beyond ordinary hardship and is now a form of systemic injustice.
In a statement issued through its Church and Society Programme under the General Assembly, the church says many Malawians are enduring severe economic strain amid rising living costs and persistent shortages of essential services.
While acknowledging government efforts to stabilise the economy including attempts to improve foreign exchange availability and address fuel supply challenges, the CCAP stressed that such measures have yet to translate into meaningful relief for ordinary citizens.
“Good intentions do not fill fuel tanks, and policy assurances do not put food on the table,” the statement reads.
According to the church, the country is grappling with multiple challenges, including persistent fuel shortages disrupting transport, agriculture and small businesses; a rising cost of living that has made basic necessities unaffordable; and taxation systems that disproportionately burden low-income households.
The statement also points to unreliable electricity supply, which continues to undermine productivity and job creation, as well as worsening conditions in rural areas marked by hunger, uncertainty and diminishing hope.
The church further warned that the widening gap between policy promises and lived experiences has evolved into a crisis of trust between citizens and authorities.
However, the church has called for urgent, coordinated, and transparent action from the government, Parliament, private sector players, civil society, and development partners to address the unfolding situation.
