Malawi Fuel Watch! Coming to twitter?

There is a group everyone who is in Malawi should know about on Facebook, it is called Malawi Fuel Watch . In this group people update the locations of fuel tankers, filling stations with fuel and all relevant matters concerning the art of surviving the Malawian concrete jungle. It also occasionally serves as a platform to vent our concerns and possible solutions to mmene zinthu zilili (the way things are).

This group was first written about by Emily Wither for CNN on August 09, 2011. At the time the numbers on the group were in the two thousands and now they are bordering on the five thousands and are sure to grow, especially after you all read this.

It’s a very simple formula; people post a question on whether fuel is available in a certain area in a specific part of the country and those with useful knowledge about it give directions as to where. I cannot vouch for the percentage accuracy of fuel availability reports by members as I have access to no official hit or miss stats, but the fact that the group has such a growing number of members is a testament to the fact that it must be helping on some level.

Here is an excerpt of some on the updates and commentary:

I am reliably informed that we will have lots of diesel next week. Nevertheless get prepared for petrol scarcity. Fill your petrol tanks this weekend ngati salary zalowa kale. Tifananeko.

Anyone travelling LL to BT on Tues 4th, and BT to LL on Wed 5th? Please hola, need a lift.

Kodi ma galimoto a diesel asiya kuyenda, im only hearing about Petrol and it seems no body is responding to my diesel request. I repeat, where is diesel in Lilongwe gud people inu?

Saw loading at Nybadwe BP about 45min ago. Weren’t queues at that stage.

What I like about this group, is the fact that the posts are multilingual, and people will comment or interact in whatever language they need to depending on their preferences,  geographic locations etc. Which is truly a binding experience to see the inclusiveness of Malawians especially at a time of such backwardness as the Nachipanti and recent Anamvula saga that is victimizing women. Which is no longer restricted to Lilongwe as there was an incident in Blantyre just yesterday around 2pm outside the bus stand vender area.

Personally I haven’t logged on in a while as I haven’t had access to a vehicle since I got back in town, I do not know what else is new with the group currently. Though I hope we can follow it up with a twitter account as that would allow members real time commentary and give people a better feel of situations on the ground before they start embarking on unfruitful trips.

Either than that, this group which was initiated by Frederick Bvalani at the suggestion of friend Kondwani Chirembo shows that even in Malawi people can be resourceful, and will use whatever technological tools they have to lessen the blows of a difficult situation.

So from me and other Malawian we say “a big thumbs up for Malawi Fuel Watch!” and a big WOYEE! If we can secure  a twitter account as well.

Those not familiar with the Malawi fuel crisis can get a glimpse of it by looking at this YouTube video of a fuel queue on Kamuzu High way in Blantyre – it’s just jaw dropping…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJXDcPDB-L8

By Talumba Chirwa