Catholic Bishop Demands End to ‘Punitive Taxes’, Warns Government Cost of Living Crisis Is Crushing the Poor

A senior Catholic leader has delivered a blunt rebuke to government economic policies, warning that rising taxes are pushing ordinary Malawians deeper into hardship and threatening the survival of already struggling households. Alfred Mateyu Chaima, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Zomba, has called on the government to immediately review and remove what he described as “punitive taxes,” arguing that the growing tax burden is worsening the cost of living crisis facing millions of Malawians. Speaking amid intensifying public debate over recent tax adjustments, Chaima said the country’s tax regime is increasingly squeezing ordinary citizens, particularly low- and middle-income earners who are already struggling to meet basic household needs.

According to the bishop, government taxation policies are placing citizens under pressure from multiple directions, with workers taxed on their salaries and then taxed again when purchasing essential goods. “People are taxed when they earn their salaries, and again when they buy goods. Life is becoming increasingly difficult for the poor,” Chaima said.

The bishop warned that the cumulative effect of taxes and rising commodity prices has created a situation where many households are barely surviving from one month to the next. He noted that the cost of basic necessities has sharply increased in recent months, with prices of essential commodities such as sugar, fuel, salt and cooking oil rising significantly across markets. The recent increase in Value Added Tax (VAT) from 16.5 percent to 17.5 percent has further intensified concerns, with many consumers reporting immediate price increases across a wide range of everyday goods.

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Economic observers say the VAT adjustment has had a ripple effect throughout the economy, as businesses pass the additional tax cost directly to consumers. For ordinary Malawians whose incomes have remained largely stagnant, the result has been a shrinking purchasing power and a deepening struggle to afford essential items. Chaima said the economic reality facing many families today is stark and unsustainable.

According to his assessment, the cost of maintaining a modest standard of living for a family of four can now exceed K500,000 per month—a figure far beyond the reach of the majority of Malawians whose wages remain low and often irregular. Such a gap between income levels and the cost of living, the bishop said, risks pushing more families into poverty and increasing social vulnerability across communities. “We were promised that life would become easier and commodities cheaper. What we are witnessing is the opposite,” he said.

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