Malawians are heading into the September 16 general election under a cloud of hardship, as crippling fuel shortages continue to bite deep into daily life and raise fears about the very credibility of the vote.
In towns like Dedza, drivers now rise before dawn just to queue at the only working petrol station, hoping to get a few litres before supplies vanish. For many, the long lines stretching for kilometres are no longer just about fuel — they are a painful reminder of an economy in crisis and a government struggling to keep things afloat.
The root of the problem lies in Malawi’s foreign exchange crunch, which has made it nearly impossible to import enough fuel and fertiliser. This has paralysed transport, strained farming, and weakened basic services. Inflation, already above 30 percent, keeps eroding people’s incomes, leaving households and businesses in constant survival mode.
Earlier this year, hopes of financial relief collapsed when Malawi’s $178 million IMF programme stalled after just $35 million was released. With debt concerns mounting and international support dwindling, the government has little room to shield citizens from these fuel shocks.
As election day nears, pressure is mounting on President Lazarus Chakwera and the ruling Malawi Congress Party. Opposition leaders accuse the government of failing to secure imports, warning that fuel shortages could even disrupt ballot distribution and polling logistics. Civil society groups also fear rising anger could spill into unrest, especially in urban centres where endless fuel queues have become flashpoints of frustration.
The crisis is not happening in isolation. Malawians have endured droughts, cyclones, and a cholera outbreak in recent years — shocks that have battered agriculture and drained public resources. For many, the current fuel scarcity is the last straw, compounding an already heavy burden.
Unless emergency fuel supplies arrive or fresh international backing is secured, Malawi risks going into its most critical election in years under suffocating strain. Beyond the long lines and darkened petrol stations, the crisis has come to symbolize something much bigger: a test of whether Malawi’s fragile democracy can withstand the weight of economic collapse and public despair.
