Hellen Buluma, the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Oil Company of Malawi (NOCMA) and current advisor to President Chakwera on fuel issues, has accused officials within the ruling Malawi Congress Party (MCP) and the civil service of orchestrating the ongoing fuel crisis for personal gain. According to Buluma, this deliberate exploitation is being carried out at the expense of ordinary Malawians.

In her statement, Buluma pointed to widespread corruption in key institutions such as the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) and NOCMA. She alleged that public servants are colluding with suppliers to inflate premiums on fuel, diverting the profits into their own pockets while causing pump prices to soar.

“Beyond forex challenges, one of the main reasons we are facing this fuel crisis is the greed of civil and public servants who are cashing in on the crisis while sabotaging efforts to resolve it,” she wrote.

Buluma also claimed that some officials are intentionally undermining President Chakwera’s directives to address the crisis. She highlighted incidents where suppliers were flown into the country under dubious circumstances, allegedly to disrupt initiatives aimed at making fuel more affordable. These actions, she asserted, are designed to protect illicit profit margins.

Quoting Jeremiah 22:3, Buluma called for divine justice, urging the Lord to deliver Malawians from what she described as oppressive greed.

“The very people entrusted to serve Malawians are instead conniving with suppliers to inflate costs for personal enrichment. This greed and betrayal of trust are unacceptable,” she stressed.

Buluma’s remarks have ignited national debate, shedding light on the urgent need for reforms, accountability, and transparency within Malawi’s energy sector.

Beyond the fuel crisis, she accused MCP officials of widespread corruption across other critical sectors, including immigration, road traffic management, and the Ministry of Energy. According to Buluma, the systematic exploitation by party officials has destabilized institutions that were previously functioning effectively.

As fuel shortages continue to impact daily life in Malawi, there is growing pressure on the government to address these allegations and implement immediate corrective measures.