Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) says it will launch an investigation into claims that some fuel attendants are demanding extra cash from motorists to have their cars refuelled.
It comes in the wake of an undercover investigation by the Malawi News Agency (MANA), which established irregularities at a Total Energies fuel station in Balaka District.
The reporter discovered that attendants at the station, which currently is the only one supplying petrol in the district, were charging unauthorised fees.
Specifically, motorists were being asked to pay a top-up of K10,000 for a full tank and K5,000 for 20 litres—charges that contravene Malawi’s fuel handling and distribution laws.
Observing closely while hiding at the back of a vehicle that was being refuelled, the reporter witnessed first hand a fuel attendant, only identified as ‘King,’ demanding extra cash from a motorist despite the fuel pump displaying the required bill of K76,000. The desperate motorist was left with no choice but to pay the ‘additional fee’ before driving away.
When approached for comment, Andrew Gwirani, the Attendant Manager at the filling station, dismissed the allegation, insisting that the station was simply regulating the number of litres per vehicle to ensure fair distribution.
“We are only controlling by asking everyone to refuel with 20 litres,” Gwirani said.
However, when put to him that the reporter had witnessed everything first hand, his response was “Let me find out from the guys and I will come back to you” and he was yet to get back to the reporter at the time of going to press.
MERA publicist, Fitina Khonje, said extra charges for refueling are uncalled for and motorists must always desist from this by properly reporting such fueling stations to them.
“ As a regulatory body, we will further dig deep into the allegations,” she said.
By Mary Makhiringa, MANA
