Malawians should expect the much talked about fuel price hike following the appointment of a new Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA).

President Lazarus Chakwera has appointed the board, after the firing of the previous one, whose members resigned.

The appointments come weeks after the old board, chaired by Leonard Chikadya, stepped aside in the middle of a legal controversy over the hiring of Henry Kachaje as Mera Chief Executive Officer.

Earlier this month MERA, released a market update statement which indicated that the landed cost of importing fuel had surpassed the 5%mark recommended for the pump price adjustment, implying a possible hike.

A decision on the price was however not made due to the absence of a MERA Board which has the mandate to make such changes.

However, the new board which is to be chaired by Reckford Kampanje is subject to approval by the Parliamentary Public Appointments Committee.

The rest include vice-chair Innocencia Chirombo and members Lameck Nchembe, Charles Kambauwa, and Ulemu Kambwiri.

Secretary for Energy, Director of Energy, and the Mera CEO are ex-officio.