Malawi Government Confirms Fuel Reserves Empty Amid Foreign Exchange Crisis

Information Minister Shadric Namalomba disclosed the country lacks funds to import fuel as suppliers demand upfront payment.

Malawi has exhausted its fuel reserves as the government struggles to secure foreign exchange for imports, Information Minister Shadric Namalomba confirmed in a broadcast interview.¹

Speaking to Zodiak Broadcasting Station, Namalomba said fuel tanks are now empty and that international suppliers are demanding cash payments upfront rather than extending credit.¹ He attributed the shortage partly to conflict involving Iran, which he said has disrupted global supply chains.¹

The government is negotiating a US$120 million loan with Afrexim Bank, with part of the funds intended to procure more than 120 million litres of fuel.¹ Namalomba appealed for calm and patience from citizens as authorities work toward a solution.¹

Namalomba also recounted his personal difficulty obtaining fuel in Zomba over the weekend, telling listeners he witnessed the severity of the crisis firsthand.² "The situation is not good because I am also a witness," he said.²

Filling stations across the country have been dry since the weekend, with long queues forming at sites where fuel remains available.² Namalomba warned that the government would take action against fuel station owners accused of hoarding supplies and selling them on the black market at night.¹