Update: A nationwide business shutdown is proceeding as shops in Lilongwe, Blantyre, and the Northern Region remain closed, according to Nyasa Times. Traders have defied the Human Rights Consultative Committee and accused the government of a breach of trust over the mandatory implementation of a new Electronic Invoicing System. Dialogue between the business sector and government officials has reportedly collapsed. Northern traders have drawn a hard line, warning that street protests are looming if the standoff continues to escalate.
In a separate economic development, the Micro Enterprise Development Fund has managed to recover just 8 billion kwacha out of 240 billion kwacha disbursed, Nyasa Times reports. This weak recovery leaves a staggering 232 billion kwacha still unpaid after a 60-day ultimatum expired in April. Authorities are now preparing for a complex legal fight and collateral confiscation to reclaim the outstanding public funds.
Meanwhile, the Consumers Association of Malawi has issued a strong warning against the potential revival of Power Market Limited. According to Nyasa Times, the consumer rights watchdog cautioned that bringing back the defunct energy entity risks triggering higher electricity tariffs. The association noted that reinstating the single buyer company would result in an unnecessary drain on public resources.