Last weekend I flew back to Malawi. I enjoy my job and enjoy working alongside my Malawian colleagues who are enrolling patients in the DON clinical trial. I love my friends and social life in Blantyre. Though I always enjoy the trip, there is some Bad News that clouds my return to the Warm Heart of Africa.
In the 13 years that I have traveled to Malawi for work, there was one silent year. There was no gasoline or diesel in the country. The streets were quiet and empty. There were no minibuses, the main form of public transportation. There were few private vehicles and no trucks. The streets were empty and quiet. Everyone walked, bicycled, or stayed at home. This lasted several months. As time rolled on, fuel became available on a parallel black market. It was double or triple the normal cost. When buying black market petrol, we were never sure of the purity or quality of our purchase. Urban legends were rife. “Friends of friends” had bought black market petrol and it was mixed with other chemicals, destroying engines. A trip to the Lake or a game park was a gamble. Would the engine fail? Would we be able to get home? The situation lasted a few months but then gradually faded away.
Beginning two or three months ago, deliveries of both gasoline (petrol) and diesel to Malawian service stations became sporadic. There were a few days when none was available. When rumors of an approaching tanker truck circulated, the lines at the petrol stations became formidable. Five weeks ago, just before I departed for the USA, diesel was unavailable but with a bit of luck, petrol could be purchased at a few stations in town.
My local friends tell me the Malawian government recently secured a $10 million loan, enough to allow fuel of be imported through Christmas. Then what?
In the last five weeks, thing have gotten worse. The availability has flipped. There is currently no gasoline but diesel is now intermittently available. I was looking forward to a trip next weekend to Lake Chilwa, two hours from Blantyre. The group trip was cancelled because no one can purchase petrol. My spouse was planning to join me in Africa in a few weeks. Not anymore. Fortunately, we did not already his purchase air tickets and are waiting to see if things get better.
The problem, apparently, is due to a chronic shortage of foreign currency in the country. All fuel sold in Malawi is imported by the government and resold to private distributors. Gasoline and diesel must be purchased in US dollars. The government has no “hard currency.” My guess is that previous lenders to the government are calling their loans. Loan repayments are also in dollars.
My local friends tell me the Malawian government recently secured a $10 million loan, enough to allow fuel of be imported through Christmas. Then what? I will be in Brazil for Christmas and New Year’s but when I return to Malawi in January, I am guessing the silence in the streets will be deafening.
