Limbe turned into a scramble for transport on Thursday evening as a fuel shortage emptied the city’s minibus depot, leaving commuters fighting for the few vehicles still making it into the area.
A Malawi24 spot check found no minibuses waiting at some of the usual boarding points, including the main depot, leaving passengers rushing to board minibuses arriving to drop off other passengers.
Some commuters were seen competing for space in the few minibuses coming into the area, while others turned to lorries to get home.
The shortage also pushed up minibus fares on several routes.
Passengers travelling from Limbe to Chilobwe, for example, were paying K2,500, up from the usual K1,500, while similar fare increases were reported on routes such as Nancholi.
More minibuses were also seen queuing at fuel stations as drivers waited to access fuel, further reducing the number of vehicles available to commuters.
Some passengers who failed to find minibuses were forced to walk home, while others paid higher fares for alternative transport.
