According to figures from the Centre for Social Concern (CfSC), food prices went up in the last month, due to limited supply amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

CfSC has said in its 2020 Basic Needs Basket Assessment notes that between March and April a family of six needed K211 000 to afford basic needs compared to K180 000 during the same period last year. The basic need costs portray a high cot of living, regardless of maize prices lowering from K17500 in March to K9500 in April.

According to the report, the high cost of living is pushing more Malawians into the poverty bracket of living below $1.90 (about K1 406) per day. Moving forward, CfSC economic governance programme officer Bernard Mphepo, called on the government’s intervention on cost of living to cushion vulnerable communities. “The government needs to be absolutely transparent, accountable and responsive so the poorest of the poor can also benefit from government or donor funds.” he said.

Meanwhile, the transport sector has decried the negative impact that the pandemic has on the businesses, as strict border measures or full lockdown have restricted the transport sector from hauling fuel, food and other necessities.