Malawi: Kapito Accuses Malawi Govt of Running 'Corrupt Genset Diesel Gravy Train'

What the report says

The Consumers Association of Malawi (CAMA), led by executive director John Kapito, has criticised the government’s plan to rent diesel generators through EGENCO and Power Market Limited, saying it could become a way for officials to extract public money rather than solve Malawi’s electricity shortages. The comments were issued in a statement dated 3 September 2026 and were carried by Nyasa Times, which said the watchdog framed the proposal as a response to the country’s ongoing blackouts.

According to the report, CAMA argued that Malawi’s fuel shortages and limited foreign exchange make the generator plan especially risky and expensive. The group said consumers could end up paying more through higher tariffs and fuel-related costs while outages continue. It also linked the idea to earlier generator-related controversies in the power sector, referring to unresolved concerns around metered output and fuel accounting in past arrangements.

CAMA urged authorities to stop any new rentals until contracts are made public and Parliament has reviewed the deals. It also called for clear disclosure of pricing, contract length and company ownership, and said the money should instead go toward transformers, cables and wider grid repairs. The group’s broader message was that Malawi needs infrastructure investment and cleaner long-term energy solutions, not repeated short-term rentals that deepen debt and public mistrust.