Trade Minister Partridge hails MAGLA on responsible gambling initiatives

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BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-Minister of Industrialisation, Business, Trade and Tourism, George Partridge, has commended the Malawi Gaming and Lotteries Authority (MAGLA) for its proactive leadership in promoting the responsible growth of the gambling industry while safeguarding young people and strengthening investor confidence.

The Minister made the remarks on Thursday during a strategic engagement with MAGLA management, which included a familiarisation tour aimed at deepening his understanding of the Authority’s operations, regulatory mandate, and strategic priorities.

Speaking during the engagement meeting, Partridge, said MAGLA’s approach demonstrates a strong commitment to balancing revenue generation, tourism development, and social responsibility, noting that gambling, when well regulated, can contribute meaningfully to the country’s economic growth.

“Gambling is an experience for both local and foreign consumers. It complements our tourism products and attracts more consumers, and when they spend more, government also benefits through increased revenue,” said Partridge.

He then applauded MAGLA for taking deliberate steps to address the social risks associated with gambling, particularly the protection of children and vulnerable groups.

“As a regulator of gambling, one of the major challenges is the negative effects of gambling on society and on children. We wanted to understand what MAGLA is doing to minimise these negative effects, and this is an area they are taking seriously,” he said.

The Minister also acknowledged operational challenges facing the Authority, including limitations in office infrastructure, and assured that government is aware of the impact such constraints can have on effective service delivery.

“They are operating from converted residential houses and are scattered across different locations, which makes administration a bit difficult. These are genuine concerns that government has taken note of,” said Partridge.

Commenting on the Minister’s visit, MAGLA Director General, Rachel Mijiga, described it as a strong show of government support for the gaming industry.

“We are grateful to the Minister for visiting MAGLA and for the guidance he has provided on how we can take the industry forward, particularly on responsible gambling and sustainable growth,” said Mijiga.

She said MAGLA is engaging betting operators on concerns surrounding the newly introduced betting tax and is working closely with key stakeholders to ensure a balanced approach.

“We are gathering insights from operators and will engage the Ministry of Finance and other stakeholders to arrive at a win-win situation for government, investors and the people of Malawi,” she said.

Looking ahead, Mijiga said MAGLA is projecting 60 percent growth in the gaming sector in the new financial year and will intensify responsible gambling initiatives.

“We will partner with responsible gambling agents and engage parents, guardians and school principals to ensure that under-18s do not participate in gambling,” she said.

She also highlighted the media’s role as a key partner in public awareness.

“The media shape public opinion and help us reach the youth and the wider public. They are a critical stakeholder in promoting responsible gambling,” said Mijiga.

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“Political interference worsening fuel prices hikes”-Kapito

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BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-The Consumers Association of Malawi (CAMA) has attributed the recent sharp fuel price hike to prolonged government and parliamentary interference in the operations of the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA), arguing that the economic shock could have been avoided if the regulator had been allowed to operate independently.

Speaking to MaraviPost, CAMA Executive Director John Kapito said fuel prices would have increased gradually and with far less pain if MERA had been permitted to execute its mandate without political pressure.

Instead, he said sustained interference delayed necessary adjustments, culminating in a sudden and severe hike that has heavily burdened consumers.

Kapito argued that MERA’s hands were effectively tied by government actions, making it impossible for the regulator to conduct incremental price reviews that would have cushioned the public from a major shock.

He stressed that the blame should not fall on MERA staff, whom he described as professionals constrained by political decisions beyond their control.

“This situation is man made and it was avoidable,” Kapito said,
calling on government to “get its hands off MERA” and allow the institution to operate strictly within its legal framework. Where weaknesses exist in the law, he added,

Parliament should amend the Act rather than interfere with day to day regulatory decisions.

He warned that continued political interference would only prolong the suffering of ordinary Malawians, noting that undermining independent institutions erodes public confidence and weakens service delivery.

While acknowledging that higher fuel prices inevitably hurt consumers, Kapito emphasized that pricing should not be confused with availability.

He argued that selling fuel below cost creates scarcity, which ultimately drives prices even higher through black market trading.

He cited recent market experiences in which fuel shortages led to extreme price distortions, with consumers paying several times the official price simply because fuel was unavailable.

Kapito maintained that ensuring consistent fuel availability would restore mobility, support business activity and help the economy stabilize over time, even if the adjustment period remains painful.

Turning to unscrupulous traders, he issued a stern warning against exploiting the situation by unjustifiably hiking prices of goods and services beyond what is warranted by fuel adjustments.

He said consumer protection bodies, working closely with the media, would closely monitor markets in the coming weeks.

He also called on the media to play a constructive role by exposing abuses while giving consumers hope and confidence that their interests are being safeguarded.

However, he concluded that while traders must be held accountable, the primary responsibility lies with government.

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“Fuel price hike will not fix Malawi’s structural economic tumoil”-UTM leader Kabambe

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BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-United Transformation Movement (UTM ) President and former Reserve Bank of Malawi (RBM ) Governor Dalitso Kabambe says the government’s recent fuel price increase reflects deeper structural weaknesses in Malawi’s economy, arguing that price adjustments alone cannot resolve the country’s persistent fuel shortages and foreign exchange challenges.

In an interview with Maravi Post,Kabambe said the government’s decision to raise fuel pump prices by 41 percent under the Automatic Pricing Mechanism (APM) may be technically compliant with the established pricing framework, but falls short of addressing the underlying causes of Malawi’s fuel crisis.

“From a narrow regulatory standpoint, the decision is defensible because the formula has been applied as designed.

“However, treating this adjustment as a sufficient response to Malawi’s fuel challenges would be a strategic mistake,” said Kabambe.

He noted that while cost-reflective pricing can help prevent losses in the fuel supply chain and reduce hidden subsidies, Malawi’s recent experience shows that strict adherence to the APM has not guaranteed fuel availability, foreign exchange stability, or economic resilience.

The ex-RBM Governor highlighted that when the Malawi Congress Party (MCP) assumed office in 2020, fuel prices stood at K699 per litre.

He said over the past five years, successive APM-driven adjustments pushed prices as high as K2,530 per litre, before an administrative price freeze was imposed.

Kabambe said the last price adjustment under the MCP administration, in October 2025, saw fuel prices rise to K3,459 per litre.

He said despite these historically high prices, fuel shortages persisted, parallel markets emerged, and pressure on foreign exchange intensified.

“If higher prices alone were sufficient to stabilise fuel supply, these outcomes should not have materialised,” said Kabambe, adding that the continued challenges indicate that Malawi’s fuel problem is structural rather than a pricing anomaly.

Kabambe warned that fuel price increases have far-reaching inflationary effects due to the central role of fuel in the economy.

He noted that transport costs account for approximately 56 percent of landed transport costs and about 30 percent of export costs, significantly undermining Malawi’s international competitiveness.

The UTM leader explained that fuel is a highly inelastic commodity and a foundational input in transport, agriculture, manufacturing, electricity generation, and public service delivery.

He said as a result, higher fuel prices transmit inflation throughout the economy, driving up food prices, production costs, and household expenditures.

“A sharp fuel price increase imposes immediate and broad-based economic pain on both households and firms,” he said.

Kabambe further observed that Malawi’s production and trade structure amplifies this vulnerability, as a large share of goods transported within the economy includes petroleum products themselves and bulky agricultural commodities such as fertiliser, maize, and tobacco.

While acknowledging that higher fuel prices may temporarily improve cash flow in the fuel importation and distribution chain, Kabambe cautioned that such gains are fragile without parallel reforms.

“The system remains exposed to foreign exchange shortages, inefficient procurement arrangements, logistical bottlenecks, and global oil price volatility.

“Under such conditions, today’s adjustment simply postpones tomorrow’s crisis,” he said.

Kabambe criticised what he described as poor policy sequencing, arguing that the government has opted to shock an already fragile economy before addressing its structural weaknesses.

“Foreign exchange supply remains weak, export capacity is constrained, transport and logistics costs remain high, and public sector inefficiencies persist.

“Pain imposed without prior strengthening does not build resilience it breaks it,” he said.

The economic genius further warned that the cumulative impact of higher PAYE, VAT, capital gains tax, and fuel prices is systematically draining capital from the economy, leaving households without savings and businesses without reinvestment capacity.

He also described the policy direction as contradictory, noting that while government speaks of private sector growth and job creation, it simultaneously raises operating costs and suppresses consumer demand.

“A durable solution must go beyond the pump price,” he said.

Kabambe called for structural reforms aimed at strengthening export capacity, reducing transport and logistics costs, and improving fuel supply efficiency.

He proposed strategic investment in rail transport, including modern electric trains, inland logistics infrastructure, and the development of a fuel pipeline to reduce reliance on road haulage.

He also emphasised the need to strengthen governance, efficiency, and transparency in fuel procurement, storage, and distribution to eliminate avoidable costs and leakages.

Kabambe stressed that the APM remains an important tool for transparency, predictability, and protection against ad hoc political interference, but said it must be embedded within a broader fuel security and economic competitiveness strategy.

“On its own, it cannot resolve Malawi’s fuel vulnerabilities,” he said.

He concluded that the key policy question is not whether the APM has been followed, but whether fuel pricing decisions are advancing Malawi toward sustained fuel availability, lower structural costs, and long-term economic stability.

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Mutharika lauded for approving crucial, corrective energy pricing

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By Dr. Tinevimbo S. Moyo, Harare, Zimbabwean political economist and Director of the Southern Africa Governance and Trade Initiative

In a decisive move that underscores his administration’s commitment to economic realism, President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika has endorsed the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority’s (MERA) immediate adjustments to fuel and electricity prices.

This bold step, announced just hours ago, marks a critical inflection point for Malawi’s economy and represents the very kind of firm, corrective act that was conspicuously absent under the previous administration of President Lazarus Chakwera.

The decision, effective from January 20, 2026, sees the reinstatement of the Automatic Pricing Mechanism (APM) for petrol and diesel, with increases of approximately 41%, and the implementation of the long-delayed third tranche of the electricity base tariff.

This is not merely a price change; it is a fundamental policy reversal. It directly addresses the artificial pricing regime—a legacy of the Chakwera era—that brought the nation to the brink of energy collapse.

Where the previous administration hesitated and allowed critical levies to fail, President Mutharika has acted with the urgency the situation demands.

Upon his return to office following a decisive electoral mandate in September 2025, President Mutharika inherited an energy sector in silent crisis.

The fixed pricing model maintained by his predecessor had drained strategic reserves, encouraged rampant smuggling, and starved the Road Fund and Rural Electrification Programme (MAREP) of billions in Kwacha.

The action is the first, essential surgical cut to remove that tumour of unsustainable policy.

What President Mutharika has done, his predecessor demonstrably could not—or would not—do over five years, is prioritize the long-term health of the nation over short-term political comfort.

The Chakwera administration was defined by a paralysis in the face of difficult choices, allowing infrastructure to decay and supply chains to fracture while offering only promises.

President Mutharika has replaced promises with a painful but precise prescription for recovery.

The swiftness of this decision following his return to State House sends a powerful signal to citizens, investors, and international partners.

It signals that the era of avoidance is over. By allowing prices to reflect true costs, the President has:

  1. Restored Market Integrity: Ensuring fuel importers can operate viably and supply can be sustained.
  2. Restored Fiscal Linkages: Reconnecting every litre of fuel sold to the funding of roads and rural electricity projects from today forward.
  3. Restored Policy Credibility: Demonstrating that Malawi, under his leadership, will adhere to transparent, rules-based economic governance.

The timing is pivotal. This decision, made today, prevents the continued haemorrhaging of foreign exchange and stabilizes the foundation upon which all other economic activity depends. It is a classic act of political courage: spending hard-earned political capital immediately upon entering office to secure the nation’s future, rather than delaying the inevitable until a crisis becomes unmanageable.

For the ordinary Malawian feeling the weight of this adjustment today, the pain is real and immediate. But so too was the pain of empty pumps, impassable roads, and stalled development—a chronic pain the previous government failed to cure.

President Mutharika’s choice today is to administer a sharp, transformative pain that leads to recovery, rather than prolonging a debilitating decline.

In his victory speech, President Mutharika promised a return to decisive and responsible governance.

The announcement from MERA this afternoon is that promise in action.

It is a clear statement that under his leadership, difficult truths will be confronted head-on, not deferred.

For a nation weary of false stability and hidden decay, today’s difficult news may well be remembered as the day Malawi began its honest journey back to solid ground.

The Maravi Post

Standard Bank aids MK50m towards Nkhotakota flood relief response

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LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-Standard Bank Plc has donated MK50 Million for relief efforts to affected communities of Nkhotakota in central Malawi.

This is in response to the aftermath of recent national flood disasters.

Handing over the donation, Standard Bank Chief Executive Phillip Madinga said the donation aims to complement government’s efforts in addressing the immediate needs of the victims.

“Today’s donation of Mk50 million speaks directly to our purpose of Driving Malawi’s Growth. To us, growth is not only measured by financial outcomes or economic indicators.

“True growth is reflected in the strength of our communities and in how we care for one another when life turns difficult,” he said.

According to the Department of Disaster Management Affairs (DODMA), Nkhotakota has recorded 12 deaths,37 injuries and two missing persons.

The department adds that more than 10,912 households have been affected in the district.

The department adds that the donation by Standard Bank Plc supports a camp in T/A Kanyenda Dwangwa area that is catering for approximately 3,000 displaced people.

Many people are living in camps.

Madinga said the donation reiterates Standard Bank’s long-term commitment to responding to the country’s complex disasters.

Notable disasters include the call for Hunger Relief last year, relief from effects of Cyclones Ana, Idai and Freddy; and the COVID-19 Pandemic.

In December, the bank contributed K200 Million in response to President Peter Mutharika’s declaration of disaster on hunger.

“As a bank, we also recognize that these disasters are closely linked to the growing realities of climate change. Standard Bank is a founding signatory to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Banking, aligning our operations with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement.

“These commitments compel us not only to respond to crises, but to actively support efforts that protect our environment and safeguard future generations. We therefore pledge to continue playing our part in collaborative initiatives aimed at building resilience and preventing the recurrence of such tragedies,” said the Chief Executive.

Chief Secretary in the office of President and Cabinet Dr. Justin Saidi thanked Standard Bank for its long history of assisting in times of disaster.

“Today’s donation will greatly assist in meeting the needs of victims living in camps and those outside. It’s pleasing to note that Standard Bank is always moving together with us on this journey. Their generous donation of MWK50 million is a true sign of solidarity,” he said.

Standard Bank has partnered World Vision International and DODMA in the Office of President and Cabinet for the relief response.

“There are families who lost all they had worked for, and their loved ones and are in dire need. We express deep gratitude to Standard Bank for their donation, and responding to the call ,” said Charles Chimombo, WVI Director of Programs.

Through this donation, Standard Bank Plc reaffirms its commitment to standing with communities in times of need and working alongside Government, humanitarian partners and stakeholders to support recovery and long‑term resilience.

The Bank remains dedicated to driving inclusive growth, strengthening community wellbeing and contributing meaningfully to national development, particularly in the face of increasing climate‑related challenges.

The Maravi Post

NAP condemns 41% fuel price hike

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LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The National Advocacy Platform (NAP) has criticised the 41 percent fuel price increase announced by the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA), describing the move as ill timed and burdensome to ordinary Malawians already grappling with rising living costs.

In a statement signed by NAP Chairperson Benedicto Kondowe and National Coordinator Baxton Nkhoma, the organisation said the fuel price adjustment, which took effect on 20 January 2026, comes barely months after a previous fuel hike and amid several recent tax increases, including Pay As You Earn (PAYE), Value Added Tax (VAT), pension tax, property tax and death benefit tax.

According to the organisation, fuel is a key driver of economic activity, affecting transport, food distribution, access to health services, education and small scale businesses.

NAP warned that the sharp increase is likely to trigger higher prices for essential goods and services, thereby worsening the cost of living for low income households.

While acknowledging the role of the Automatic Pricing Mechanism (APM) in regulating fuel prices, NAP argued that the mechanism should not be applied rigidly without measures to cushion citizens during periods of economic hardship.

The organisation maintained that Government has the discretion to introduce mitigation measures to protect vulnerable groups.

NAP also questioned the justification that the fuel hike is necessary to prevent fuel shortages, saying the social and economic consequences of higher fuel prices should be carefully considered.

The organisation noted that increases in fuel costs typically translate into higher transport fares and food prices, with disproportionate effects on the poor.

The advocacy group has since called on Government to review the scale and timing of the fuel price increase and consider introducing targeted relief measures, including transport and food price stabilisation initiatives.

It has also urged authorities to reduce non essential public expenditure and reassess the cumulative tax burden on citizens.

NAP further appealed for increased transparency and engagement with civil society in the formulation of energy and economic policies, arguing that inclusive dialogue is key to achieving sustainable and people centred solutions.

The organisation said it remains open to constructive engagement with Government and relevant institutions to promote economic stability and social protection.

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