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By Mercy Matonga Mystery surrounds what happened to some 27 million litres of fuel the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) donated to Malawi in 2023, as authorities struggle to account for the bulk of the fuel. Malawi News can report that out of the 27 million liters announced by the DRC government to have been donated in August 2023 when former president Lazarus Chakwera visited Angola, where he met the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Félix Tshisekedi Tshilombo, only 2.3 million liters arrived in the country. During the meeting, Tshisekedi pledged the nearly 30 million litres of fuel to Malawi, following the fuel shortages that the country had been facing since 2021. In interviews, several sources raised eyebrows over the fuel deal claiming some officials might have misdirected the rest of the fuel for private business. Malawi News, however, could not independently confirm the allegations. However, according to the National Oil Company of Malawi (Nocma), only 2.3 million litres of fuel were received between September and November 2023, and the institution is unaware of what happened to the remainder. When asked about the missing fuel, Nocma spokesperson Raymond Likambale said the donation was a government-to-government arrangement. “It is a grant made by one President to another. Accordingly, the progress reports on the receipt of fuel are submitted to OPC [Office of the President and Cabinet]. The report showing 2.3 million litres as having been received by Nocma, was also sent to OPC for action and guidance. So, in terms of follow up, we refer you to the Office of the President and Cabinet,” Likambale said. He further confirmed that Nocma only received 2.3 million litres of fuel between September and November 2023 and that no further consignments have arrived since then. “We confirm receipt of 2.3 million litres. However, the original agreement was for 30 million litres, with 15 million litres allocated for each product. We only received the aforementioned 2.3 million litres, and no further shipments have been received since November 2023,” he said. According to a Nocma memo, the DRC expressed concern over Malawi’s fuel shortages, which were attributed to a lack of foreign exchange, and decided to extend a hand of solidarity in the form of fuel supply. “Accordingly, DRC shall dispatch fifteen million litres of diesel as well as fifteen million litres of petrol, with Malawi only responsible for logistical arrangements. This fuel supply shall be treated with utmost urgency to provide quick relief to the Malawian nation,” reads part of the memo. The memo further said that Nocma management and a representative of the DRC government, identified as Dr. Nir, held several meetings to operationalise the fuel grant. Malawi News reached Nair who said did not have full information but said deliveries may not have concluded due to logistical issues and referred the matter to Nocma for more explanation. “I was more in the bilateral agreement, then they worked directly on the logistics, I am not sure on quantity, I know the DRC started but did not complete, due to supply problems at their port,” said Nair. The memo also indicates that between September and November 2023, a total of 62 trucks delivered 2,336,753 litres of fuel to Malawi. Out of this, 640,064 litres were petrol, while 1,696,689 litres were diesel. In September 2023, 41 trucks transported 1,545,286 litres of diesel. In October, only one truck delivered 37,414 litres of diesel, while in November, 20 trucks brought in 754,053 litres comprising 640,064 litres of petrol and 113,989 litres of diesel. When Malawi News sought comment from the Office of the President and Cabinet through its spokesperson, Geoffrey Kawanga, he referred the publication to the Chief Secretary, who did not respond. Malawi has been facing shortages of fuel supply for some time. Long queues for fuel have been persistent despite government—past and present promise to solve the situation.
