02:38Long queues of cars on roads and waiting outside petrol stations day and night were seen in the city of Lilongwe on Friday, as Malawi faced the fuel crisis.
"I arrived here around 4am to be on the queue and wait for fuel and this is around 4pm yet the fuel tanker has not come. We are just hoping that it will come and some of us have not had lunch because the little money I have is meant for the fuel," shared Joseph Chakhala, a taxi driver.
Local resident Patrick Njawala added that queues of cars waiting for petrol near gas stations is 'unfortunately becoming a reality' in Malawi.
"We are able to generate about 37 million dollars forex yet what we need is about 51 million so there is always going to be a deficit," he explained.
According to the Malawian Minister of Information and Digitalisation Moses Kunkuyu, the fuel delivery has been suspended for 10 days amid failure to offset debts with foreign suppliers, due to acute shortage of foreign exchange.
However, he announced that the country's fuel supply is expected to 'increase significantly' after foreign currency has been allocated to the National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) and Petroleum Importers Limited (PIL).
'It's becoming a reality across Malawi' - Cars queue on forecourts in Lilongwe as country faces petrol crisis
Long queues of cars on roads and waiting outside petrol stations day and night were seen in the city of Lilongwe on Friday, as Malawi faced the fuel crisis.
"I arrived here around 4am to be on the queue and wait for fuel and this is around 4pm yet the fuel tanker has not come. We are just hoping that it will come and some of us have not had lunch because the little money I have is meant for the fuel," shared Joseph Chakhala, a taxi driver.
Local resident Patrick Njawala added that queues of cars waiting for petrol near gas stations is 'unfortunately becoming a reality' in Malawi.
"We are able to generate about 37 million dollars forex yet what we need is about 51 million so there is always going to be a deficit," he explained.
According to the Malawian Minister of Information and Digitalisation Moses Kunkuyu, the fuel delivery has been suspended for 10 days amid failure to offset debts with foreign suppliers, due to acute shortage of foreign exchange.
However, he announced that the country's fuel supply is expected to 'increase significantly' after foreign currency has been allocated to the National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) and Petroleum Importers Limited (PIL).
Long queues of cars on roads and waiting outside petrol stations day and night were seen in the city of Lilongwe on Friday, as Malawi faced the fuel crisis.
"I arrived here around 4am to be on the queue and wait for fuel and this is around 4pm yet the fuel tanker has not come. We are just hoping that it will come and some of us have not had lunch because the little money I have is meant for the fuel," shared Joseph Chakhala, a taxi driver.
Local resident Patrick Njawala added that queues of cars waiting for petrol near gas stations is 'unfortunately becoming a reality' in Malawi.
"We are able to generate about 37 million dollars forex yet what we need is about 51 million so there is always going to be a deficit," he explained.
According to the Malawian Minister of Information and Digitalisation Moses Kunkuyu, the fuel delivery has been suspended for 10 days amid failure to offset debts with foreign suppliers, due to acute shortage of foreign exchange.
However, he announced that the country's fuel supply is expected to 'increase significantly' after foreign currency has been allocated to the National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) and Petroleum Importers Limited (PIL).