By Suleman Chitera
Renowned policy analyst Rodrick Junaid Kalumpha has sharply criticized the Malawi Government for what he describes as “embarrassing incompetence” in handling the latest Government-to-Government (G2G) fuel import arrangement, which has now backfired, leaving fuel vessels stranded at the ports of Tanga in Tanzania and Beira in Mozambique.
Announced with great fanfare just a few months ago, the G2G fuel procurement deal was promoted by authorities as a revolutionary step in ensuring a stable and cost-effective fuel supply chain. Citizens, long tormented by fuel shortages and price hikes, embraced the move with cautious optimism.
However, that optimism is now fading fast. A report by the Platform for Investigative Journalism (PIJ) revealed that two vessels carrying the much-needed fuel have been denied clearance at both ports due to poor documentation and procedural failures. The report says the vessels remain docked, as Malawi government officials scramble to address the situation.
Kalumpha did not mince words in his assessment.
“How can an entire government apparatus fumble what is essentially a basic international trade operation?” he asked. “All necessary paperwork—bills of lading, invoices, port clearance documentation—should have been finalized and submitted to clearing agents well before the ships left their loading ports. This is not rocket science; it’s Trade 101.”
He warned that delays in clearing the vessels will attract hefty demurrage and quay rent charges—costs that will be transferred to the already struggling Malawian taxpayer. “Beyond the looming fuel queues, these delays come with financial penalties that we cannot afford. This is another crisis born out of carelessness,” Kalumpha said.
Adding to the confusion is the government’s unusual decision to send Malawi Defence Force personnel as part of the delegation to resolve the issue at both ports. According to the PIJ report, army officers were dispatched to negotiate with port authorities in Tanzania and Mozambique.
Kalumpha questioned the rationale behind involving the military in what is clearly a trade issue.
“This is a logistics and international commerce matter. It requires people who understand port protocols, trade terms, and incoterms—not army generals. Why sideline trade professionals and experienced clearing agents in favor of armed personnel? It’s a ridiculous miscalculation,” he said.
Kalumpha suggested that officials from the Ministry of Trade, together with private clearing firms such as Manica Malawi Ltd, IFA Ltd, AIM, and others, should have been tasked with handling the matter. He argued that this would have ensured a swift and professional resolution.
“This whole episode reeks of negligence. And unfortunately, it is ordinary Malawians who will pay the price,” he lamented.
As fuel queues begin to form again across the country, Kalumpha has called for an immediate audit of the G2G arrangement and accountability from those responsible for the mishap. He stressed the need for competence and planning, warning that if Malawi continues on this path of trial-and-error governance, more crises are bound to follow.
