The Consumers Association of Malawi (CAMA) has expressed disappointment over what it describes as the government’s continued silence on the implementation of the austerity measures introduced in November 2025.
In a press statement, CAMA said both the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) have failed to respond to its request for an update on the implementation of the measures.
The association said it first wrote to the Ministry of Finance on 27 April 2026 seeking information on the progress made.
CAMA Executive Director John Kapito said Malawians were assured that the austerity measures would restore fiscal discipline, reduce wasteful public expenditure and help ease the cost of living.
“Government cannot continue asking ordinary Malawians to tighten their belts while refusing to demonstrate transparency and accountability in the management of public finances,” Kapito said.
He added that leadership by example is essential to building public trust and appealed to the government to respond within the stipulated period.
According to CAMA, there is no publicly available information on the savings achieved through the austerity measures, no report on the promised payroll clean-up, and no evidence that the measures have improved the lives of consumers.
The association noted that Malawians continue to face foreign exchange shortages, rising prices of essential commodities and worsening economic hardship.
CAMA also expressed concern over continued reports of ghost workers, an unsustainably bloated public wage bill, the purchase of luxury vehicles, and frequent non-essential foreign and domestic travel by senior government officials.
The association said these developments contradict the principles and objectives of the austerity measures.
CAMA described the lack of transparency and accountability as “unacceptable and unnecessary,” arguing that public funds belong to taxpayers and that citizens have a constitutional right to know how government resources are being managed and whether the promised reforms are delivering results.
The association has given the government seven days to publish a comprehensive report on the implementation of the austerity measures.
According to CAMA, the report should include details of savings realised, payroll reforms undertaken, and all non-essential government expenditure that has been suspended or eliminated. It also called for accountability for Ministries, Departments and Agencies that have failed to comply with the measures, as well as the creation of a public dashboard to provide citizens with access to the information.
“We are confident this time that Government will provide the required information and assist CAMA to inform consumers accurately and objectively regarding the successes or challenges in the implementation of the Austerity Measures,” Kapito said.
