By Chisomo Phiri
President Lazarus Chakwera has apologized to Malawians enduring long hours in fuel queues, attributing the crisis to deliberate actions by individuals bent on frustrating his administration.
In a national address delivered on Monday evening from Sanjika Palace in Blantyre, Chakwera alleged that some officials at the National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) intentionally delayed the importation of fuel in order to undermine his government and benefit illegally from kickbacks.
He said ordinary motorists have been caught in the crossfire of what he described as a battle against corrupt cartels and an opposition political party, which he did not name.
The president pledged that, if re-elected in next Tuesday’s presidential election, he will dismiss the implicated NOCMA officials and ensure accountability.
Chakwera also announced new fertiliser prices under the Affordable Inputs Programme (AIP).
He said that from October 1, 2025, smallholder farmers will buy a 50kg bag at K15,000, while commercial buyers will pay K90,000.
Chakwera further accused unscrupulous businesspersons of colluding with an opposition party to inflate fertiliser prices to the current K160,000 per bag.
“They will not win this fight. I will continue to fight for poor farmers in this country,” he said.
Chakwera became Malawi president in the 2020 court-sanctioned presidential election.
