MCCCI, Cama trade barbs

Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) Chief Executive Officer Chancellor Kaferapanjira has thrown a punch at Consumers Association of Malawi (Cama) Executive Director John Kapito, saying he was misleading people on the economy.

However, Kapito has hit back at Kaferapanjira, describing him as a capitalist who speaks on behalf of industry and not consumers.

Reacting to our story of yesterday in which Kapito urged Malawians to stand-up against price increases in the country, Kaferapanjira said Kapito should tell Malawians the truth about why the country was going through economic turmoil.

“What Mr. Kapito is propagating is misleading and very dangerous. It’s even more surprising because not long go, Mr. Kapito was one of the commentators who were advocating for the devaluation of the kwacha,” said Kaferapanjira.

He said contrary to what Cama through Kapito are saying, the Malawi economy was currently heading in the right direction economically because of the devaluation and other economic reforms that have been implemented by the government.

“The situation is indeed tough because of the rising prices but at least people can access fuel and other products on the market unlike eight months ago,” said Kaferapanjira.

He said as a result of the reforms, the economy was now in better shape to recover by early next year, saying this is why even companies have stopped retrenchments as they are optimistic about the future.

Kaferapanjira said what was dangerous about Kapito’s message is that it could influence the government to backtrack on the reforms, thereby taking the economy on a prolonged decaying path.

But when contacted on Kaferapanjira’s remarks, Kapito said the MCCCI boss had no right to stop consumers from speaking about the pain they are going through because of poor economic policies.

“He can speak for the industry and the people that have sent him in the government because there are benefits he expects from the state.

“As consumers, what we are saying is that we are unable to access goods and services because of prohibitive prices and we cannot sit back and watch the economy being mismanaged in this way,” said Kapito.