“I tell my children not to play, so we save money for soap”

Susanna Catumbus, a home worker in Malawi, spends every day thinking about how she can save to make her salary of 80,000 Kwacha ($ 46; £ 34) per month to support her family.

When it takes a damp cloth from a bucket of water in the living room and begins with wiping tables and chairs, it considers its last conspiracy to save money.

“I told my youngest children so that it would not be too dirty to play so we can save on soap,” said a 43-year-old BBC boyfriend.

“But it’s hard because children are children they want to play.”

Over the last few months, Ms. Katumba, divorced by the four of the four, who work in the capital, Lylongwe, has been fighting for salaries from the rise in prices for goods on the market.

With little financial support from her ex -husband, she is the only salary for the household. Most of her money returns to four children living in her hometown of Casung, about 130 km (80 miles) northwest of the capital. Two younger children are still studying at school and two are unemployed.

In May, the annual inflation level in Malawi was 27.7% – One of the highest in Africa is a decline compared to 29.2% in April.

“It is strange that the salaries remain the same, but the price of goods continues to rise daily,” said Ms. Katumba.

“The money ends before they even come. We live a very difficult life.”

Recent report Ernst & Young He said that Malawi was one of the few countries of the world, which he considered what was called “hyperinflation economy” – together with Burundi, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Venezuela and Zimbabwe. This is when there are about 100% or more cumulative inflation for three years.

The accounting firm stated that in accordance with the World Economic Perspective database, compiled by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Malawi had a three -year aggregate inflation rate of 116% as of December 2024 and predicts three -year cumulative inflations 102% for 2026.

World Bank data It also shows that the country is one of the poorest in the world. The 70% of South Africa estimates live less than $ 2.15 per day.

The current crisis of life has left many citizens, such as Mrs. Katumba, without any savings.

“I would lie if I say that I will make money at the end of the month. I have absolutely nothing,” she said.

“I cry 50,000 Kwacha (29 dollars) for school fees each term. Then you need to buy exercises, food, soap – all with the same small salary. Sugar (1 kg) is now 4500 quacz (3 dollars).”

Economists have raised current problems with Malawi inflation, partly before the lack of foreign money – in banks known as “forex”.

Malawi often fights forex when the country imports much more than exports.

“We do not export high-value products,” said Dr. Bertha Bangar Chikadada, senior Macroeconomics Lecturer at Malawi University and President of the Malawi Economy Association.

“We export products such as corn, soybean and sugar, but imported expensive foods such as fertilizers, medicines and furniture, so we need a huge amount of forex,” she said.

Enterprises wishing to import goods say that when they turn to Forex banks – in particular US dollars – they are often rejected because they are gone.

This makes some look for US dollars in the black market, where the exchange rate is higher than the official rate of 1750 quacts per dollar.

Traders can pay from 4000 to $ 5,000 for $ 1 – which has an effect for consumers.

Business owners, as well as Mohammed Hanif Vac, who owns the stationery store in the capital, says he has lost many customers since the prices.

“Sales fell sharply. We had to make dismissal,” he said to the BBC.

While it usually imports items for its store, such as office materials, pens and notebooks, lack of foreign currency means that it is now trying to access the goods at the local level.

“I don’t remember when our banks gave us forex,” he said.

In February, desperately from change, informal traders took to the streets to protest in February, hundreds blocked the entrance to the Malawi Parliament.

“We are really affected, we need to make a profit from our business,” said Steve Magombo, the chairman of the Tsoka Lilongwe, BBC Bbc Bbc.

“But yes, we don’t have.

Earlier this year it was announced that the $ 175 million loan agreement was temporarily suspended. The four -year loan was approved in November 2023, so far paid $ 35 million.

“According to the IMF policy, if the reviews are not completed during the 18-month period, the program automatically expires, and no reviews are successfully completed,” Justin Tyson, Head of the IMF Mission on Malawi. said BBC.

Mr Tyson added that “fiscal discipline” was difficult to support in modern conditions from high pressure pressure. “

However, Finance Minister Malawi Simplex Chithyola Banda said the government’s decision to suspend the loan because there was a difference on the conditions.

“If you have been told you need to create stocks, but at the same time the country is dry because you do not have fuel – you decided to buy fuel (faster) than to create stocks,” the BBC BBC said last month.

“We were told to stay in the program, you need to adjust the fuel prices, but it can adversely affect the prices for the main goods.”

Since Malawi’s national elections are scheduled for September, the government states that it takes a number of steps to reduce prices.

Vitumbian Trade Minister Vitumbian Mumbar acknowledged that Forex should be rational, but says a registered business can apply for the necessary items using a reserve bank or the Ministry of Finance. But he also accuses traders of inflating prices.

“We set a bill on economic sabotage, and there is also a bill on the necessary goods and services to regulate it,” he said the BBC.

Meanwhile, the main opposition was guilty for inflation at the feet of power.

Regardless of the cause of prices inflating, the cost of life is likely to be a huge company problem.

Molivitsa hope that their daily struggles will be weakened by the government’s plans – and everyone wants to decide what brings firm stability of the economy.

“We depend on the government for help,” said Ms. Katumba.

“I hope that politicians remember less privileged Malawins when making their decisions.”

Additional Jack McBrams report in Lylongwe.