Malawi Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has faulted government for the deteriorating social economic conditions and has since asked authorities to address the challenges by the end of the first quarter of 2024.

The commission has pressed government to address high inflation rates, fuel scarcity, hunger and the shortage of other essential services, among others.

Chijozi: Cost of living is too high

Besides, MHRC has demanded that government regulates maize prices, implement recovery plans for Cyclone Freddy survivors and deal with the illegal exportation of maize.

In a statement released on Monday signed by MHRC chairperson Chikondi Chijozi, the commission said it noted severe rising cost of living, persistent hunger and livelihoods, deteriorating social economic conditions and food insecurity that are violating people’s rights.

Quoting data from the Centre for Social Concern that shows that as of July 2023, a household of six people was spending K378 812 monthly from K270 799 in June 2022, the commission said: “As a result of high inflation trends, most Malawians have been rendered unable to afford basic needs such as food, housing, medication, education, transportation electricity and water bills.

“The commission further notes that the worsening socioeconomic situation has eroded the financial power of Malawians to afford basic needs, and as a consequence more people… have plunged into poverty and destitution.”

In an interview on Monday, Minister of Information and Digitisation Moses Kunkuyu said the statement had been “noted with appreciation” as it tackles challenges that the country has indeed been grappling with.

However, he said there were several interventions that the government is implementing to address the challenges such as mega farms to deal with hunger and by importing fuel through rail to ease scarcity of the commodity on the market.

Kunkuyu, who is the official government spokesperson, said: “There are pertinent questions that Malawians must be asking and see if what the government is doing is not responding to the challenges.

“But, for example, the government has introduced mega farms to achieve food security and is importing additional fuel through rail to ease the pressure of scarcity.”

He said government is reviewing the mining law to ensure the country benefits enough from the extractive industry, adding that government also addressed power blackouts to foster industrialisation and cut cost of production for manufacturers, who used to rely on diesel-powered generators.

But while acknowledging the challenges raised in the statement, Consumers Association of Malawi executive director John Kapito challenged MHRC to move from issuing statements and engage government, arguing the commission is part of the government machinery.

“They should not just be making statements to show that they are relevant, we need action. They are part of the government, they can go to President [Lazarus Chakwera] and tell him right in the face about all these issues they are raising,” he said.

Lately, there has been a public outcry on the rising cost of living with some sections of the civil society holding protests to force the government to address the changes, especially rising cost of living.

Malawi has also been grappling with fuel shortages due to the scarcity of foreign exchange which has also been affecting and stalling some economic activities. A 25 percent devaluation of the kwacha in May 2022 also worsened the situation.

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