Africa-Press – Malawi. By Brenda Kayo, Veronica Kafumphe & Jarson Malowa:
The scarcity of cement on the market has led to a surge in prices, with buyers paying as much as K42,000 for a 50 kilogramme (kg) bag in some areas.
Industry representative bodies have also lamented the situation.
Spot checks in Lilongwe, Blantyre and Zomba cities indicated that most shops had either run out of the commodity or were selling it at as much as K42,000 per 50kg bag.
In Lilongwe, we found some shops selling Tanthwe Cement by Shayona Cement Corporation at K41,000 per 50kg bag, up from K37,000 in just two weeks
We also found that some shops in the capital city were selling Akshar Cement at K38,000 per 50kg bag, up from K27,000.
In Blantyre, especially Limbe, we found a 50kg bag of cement being sold at an average price of K42,000.
Others, who were selling it at a relatively cheaper price, were selling it as K40,000 per 50kg bag.
In Zomba, some shops were selling a bag of that quantity at K38,000, with others selling the commodity at K40,000.
Buyers have since said they are feeling the pinch.
For instance, Memory Phiri from Lilongwe said she has been searching for cement for three weeks, to no avail.
Phiri said the scarcity of cement had affected her project as she is constructing a house.
At first, she said, she was buying a bag of cement, just four weeks ago, at a price of K26,000, but now the same bag is selling at K38,000.
Phiri believes that some shops are not releasing cement onto the market to artificially inflate prices.
“The way the price is escalating every day, I think the shops are not releasing the cement on purpose so that they can sell it at a high price,” Phiri said.
On his part, Blantyre-based Patrick Sosola Banda, who is constructing two houses in Chileka, said works have stalled.
“I cannot buy cement at the current price. I do not know why they have raised prices. Nothing has changed on the market for them to be selling the commodity at elevated prices,” he said.
On her part, Zomba-based Puna Saidi said she has stopped constructing a house her South Africa-based husband asked her to construct.
KHONJE—We are concerned“My husband, who works in South Africa, wants to find a completed house when he comes back to Zomba City next year. But I do not think I will finish construction works before he comes back home because the prices are biting,” she said.
National Construction Industry Council Chief Executive Officer Gerald Khonje also expressed concern over the rising cost of cement, saying it poses a threat to the construction sector and the country’s economic development.
Khonje said cement plays a critical role in construction and that any price increase affects infrastructure development.
“We, as an industry, are concerned. Any price increase will actually affect infrastructure development,” Khonje said.
Industry and Trade Minister Vitumbiko Mumba referred us to the ministry’s spokesperson Patrick Botha, who said the ministry would issue a statement on the matter.
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