Government says it is both surprised and concerned with an industrial action taken by international truck drivers who are on a strike across the country. 

Government spokesperson Gospel Kazako told a news conference in Lilongwe that the truck drivers are holding protests on issues that were already resolved by government citing the scrapping off of passport and Covid-19 testing fees.

“The government of Malawi has noted with dismay the ongoing industrial action by the truck drivers in the country, the fact of the matter is that all raised concerns by the truck drivers association.

“The last time the similar industrial action was taken have been attended to and satisfied abundantly and adequately and this has been well known to them and of course well known to those that facilitated the negotiations,” said Kazako.

He also cautioned the truck drivers against blocking the country’s roads saying that the development is uncalled for and unlawful.

On this, the government spokesperson says the military has been deployed in all the country’s borders to ensure safe passage for trucks.

“We are doing all we can to make sure that there is fuel continuing to come into Malawi and then there is also a smooth passage of all the fuels that we need in so many parts of the country,” Kazako said.

He said: “This an important issue and the army has been called to duty to make sure that they create the safe passage of fuel, there already in the borders of this country to make sure that that there is continued flow of fuel.”

But reacting to the development, Professional Drivers Union Chairperson Major Mkandawire has faulted authorities for not resolving their matters as government has not written them on any development.

“If they so, we are not even arguing with them but what we are asking for them is to come and address that our matters have been addressed in such way.

“How can you just go to the media telling people that they have resolved our matter while ourselves we haven’t seen the documents or anything to ensure that our issues have been resolved,” said Mkandawire.

Meanwhile, Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera) has issued a statement calling upon the public not to panic the country has enough stock of fuel to in the next 28 days.