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Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Malawi’s capital, Lilongwe, on Tuesday, decrying the rising cost of living in what has been described as the country’s biggest demonstration in years.
The march, which ended at the parliament building, saw vendors, particularly second-hand clothes sellers, calling for President Lazarus Chakwera’s resignation.
Malawi has been grappling with an acute shortage of foreign exchange, leading to surging prices for essential goods, including fuel and food.
The International Food Policy Research Institute reported a 21% increase in the price of maize, the country’s staple food, in January alone. Many traders have been left struggling to pay their suppliers, forcing some to resort to the black market for foreign currency.
“It is ridiculous because the prices keep going up, sometimes three or four times a day,” said protester Daud Sanudi, a clothes vendor.
Wholesaler Mohammad Latif added that the dollar was being sold at “more than three times the normal price” on the black market, making business unsustainable.
In response to the protest, Malawi’s Ministry of Trade and Industry issued a sudden directive revoking all business licenses for second-hand clothing traders, ordering them to reapply.
The government warned that non-compliance would lead to prosecution but did not provide a reason for the move.
Political opposition figures supported the demonstration, urging the government to urgently tackle inflation.
“Most businesses are closing, there is no forex, and people cannot afford the basics,” said opposition MP Sameer Suleiman of the Democratic Progressive Party.
Malawi, where nearly three-quarters of the 21 million population live in extreme poverty, faces deepening economic challenges ahead of the upcoming elections in September, in which President Chakwera is seeking a second term.
