ICTs in Malawi amidst the Fuel and Forex Crisis

Amidst the Fuel and Forex crises which have hit Malawi's Economy, ICTs have been a MUST embrace not an option...For a car owner or business person to know when and where to get the two Fs, they must have either left their contacts with the gas station attendants (or bureau persons if its forex) or have Facebook or twitter accounts from where they are getting the updates from. I have seen ICTs doing a tremendous job in Agriculture and some other sectors, but a new face they have worn in directing the forces of demand and supply of these two important resources has sounded a very dangerous alarm.

It may sound laughable but men and women of over 50 years have resorted to having Facebook and twitter accounts just for the sake of making sure they are abreast with the flow of the scarce resources.. Younger persons resorted to informing each other through Social networks because it is easier that way as most of them have accounts and that sidelined the 20th Century generations. And what would they do? Open theirs as well.... One Facebook  status that caught my attention read: A tanker of I dont know whether its Diesel or petrol is being offloaded at Chitipi filling Station, Hurry While stocks last. Before we got there the que was already the longest. The speed of reaching at such a place depends on how frequent you stay online. This situation has read to branding the rulling party as Diesel, Petrol Palibe (DPP) which literary means both Diesel and Petrol are not there.

My interest goes back to ICTs and I have learnt that its power should not be underrated and limited to certain sectors... And I love the commotion, cellphones in hands, everyone rushing to the gas stations and WOW! the Long ques are like there are holding celebrations say Wedding....

Am yet to know where Malawi is heading to but will keep you posted when I get some idea...