By Chisomo Phiri
Minister of Information Moses Kunkuyu has said that the National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) has secured USD 50 million for the importation of fuel in the country
Speaking on Wednesday during a joint press briefing with NOCMA and MERA in Lilongwe, Kunkuyu said the Government is now working around the clock to ensure uninterrupted fuel supply in the country.
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The minister said diesel availability in most filling stations is now stabilizing and that currently, over 3 million litres of both diesel and petrol have been procured representing two days’ cover.
Kunkuyu added that over 7 million litres of fuel will be in the country over the weekend.
He further assured Malawians that the government is exploring other routes for the timely arrival of fuel into the country.
However, the minister disclosed that fuel scarcity in the country has been exacerbated by $800 (about K867.8 billion) which the DPP-led Government borrowed from Afrixem Bank.
Kunkuyu claimed that this year alone the Tonse Alliance led administration has paid back $100 million to the bank.
“As at June this year, the country owed Afreximbank about $757 million (about K784 billion) in foreign debt and about $145 million (about K150.2 billion)was owed to Trade and Development Bank, along with millions of arrears.
“In total, Malawi’s public debt stood at K7.9 trillion as at December 2022, with K4.43 trillion domestic debt and K3.47 trillion, external debt,” he said.
Meanwhile, the minister said the current administration is repaying the loan a development he said is draining the country’s forex.