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Cama calls for boycott

 The Consumers Association of Malawi (Cama) has urged consumers to get prepared for a solidarity boycott over high fuel prices and electricity rates on a date to be communicated.

The Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) last week increased fuel prices in response to globe automatic price mechanism (APM) and also increased tariffs for electricity, making life unbearable to consumers as the economic situation was already bad.

Reads a statement signed by Cama executive director John Kapito: “As consumers, you have a role to play and you can reverse the current economic confusion and experiments by demanding accountability from the economic-clueless leaders.

“Among the many things, we are asking you to prepare yourselves for these consumer solidarity boycotts. Are you aware that while we continue to suffer, most of these leaders have become billionaires overnight since they took office?”

Cama said the recent increase in fuel and electricity prices and tariffs have triggered increases in most commodity prices on the market and many consumers can no longer survive the current economic hardship which is also exacerbated by the poor salaries and lack of employment by the majority of Malawians.

Reads the statement: “Malawians and all consumers, much as we complain, it is important to understand that the current administration has lost direction and control of the country’s economy.

“Our leaders do not have a clue as to why they decided to float the kwacha and much as we understand the reasons behind devaluation which we all strongly supported, we are, however, aware that we have resources that are put to waste that we believe can be channelled to mitigate the poor such as cutting down on unnecessary travel both local and foreign [and] reducing size of Cabinet.”

President Joyce Banda has on numerous occasions defended the devaluation of the kwacha, arguing it was a necessary evil.

Presidential press secretary Steven Nhlane also previously dismissed Kapito’s assertions that Malawi’s economy was nose-diving, arguing the Banda administration was working hard to improve the economy.

 

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