By Burnett Munthali
Malawi’s inflation rate has surged to 34.3% in September, up from 33.9% in August 2024, according to a report released by the National Statistics Office (NSO). This rise in inflation is attributed to the continuous increase in food prices, with the food inflation rate climbing to 43.5% in September from 42% in August.
Economist Bertha Chikadza has pointed to the poor agricultural yield during the 2023/2024 farming season as a contributing factor to the inflation spike. “There is a need to establish sustainable solutions to address the issue of food shortages,” Chikadza emphasized.
Consumer rights advocate John Kapito from the Consumers Association of Malawi (CAMA) has expressed concern, noting that this inflationary pressure will result in significant hardships for Malawians who are already grappling with economic challenges.
“The prices of goods are rising sharply because Malawi is struggling to boost exports, while the government continues to borrow recklessly for non-developmental purposes,” Kapito explained.
The escalating inflation has raised fears of worsening living conditions for many Malawians, as the cost of essential goods and services continues to soar.
