Mera, Police to crackdown on ‘Zigubu’

The Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA), in coordination with the Malawi Police Service (MPS) and city councils, has declared a sweeping nationwide war against the illegal storage, transportation, and parallel market sale of fuel.

The joint enforcement operation targets individuals hoarding petroleum products in jerrycans, drums, and plastic bottles, as well as licensed filling stations bypassing regulations amidst deepening nationwide fuel shortages.

In a joint statement issued by MERA and the police, authorities warned that any individual or business found handling, possessing, or distributing regulated energy products without official authorization faces immediate arrest and prosecution.

“This illegal trade puts lives at risk and exploits desperate consumers,” stated Deputy Regional Police Public Relations Officer Alfred Chimthere.

Officials emphasize that storing high volumes of fuel in unregulated residential areas or selling it in makeshift containers threatens human life, property, and the environment.

The parallel market has thrived in major cities like Lilongwe, Blantyre, Zomba, and Mzuzu, driven by persistent forex-related fuel supply constraints. Black-market vendors buy up stocks at pumping stations to resell at exorbitant, inflated prices, forcing frustrated motorists to wait in crawling lines for hours.