By Suleman Chitera
The Malawi Black Economic Empowerment Movement (Mablem) has called for swift government action to recover $8 billion allegedly owed by Total Malawi Limited in unpaid fuel rebates dating back to 2004.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lilongwe today, Mablem chairperson Robert Mkwezalamba accused the multinational oil company— a subsidiary of global energy giant Total Energies— of deliberately withholding funds meant to support Malawi’s public services and national development.
“Total Malawi is hiding in the shade of its mother company Total Energies by using its multinational and legal strength. This is the plight of many African countries, but as a vibrant CSO, we have written the French Embassy to intervene,” Mkwezalamba said, urging Malawians to “join hands and fight for our money.”
According to Mablem, the arrears stem from a 2001 government-approved agreement between Total Malawi and Prima Fuels, which granted the company exclusive rights to supply fuel nationwide. The deal included tax incentives, access to state-owned infrastructure, and preferential market conditions, on the condition that Total Malawi would remit a percentage of its annual profits to government as fuel rebates.
Mkwezalamba claims the company only complied with the arrangement until 2003, after which it stopped remitting the rebates, leading to a prolonged legal dispute with the government.
“This is not just about money; it is about accountability and fairness in how multinationals operate in our country,” Mablem said in a statement issued after the briefing.
Mablem has urged government to expedite the recovery process and called on the French government to facilitate dialogue through its embassy in Malawi.
