By Lydia Tembo
Claims that fuel is cheaper in Malawi, with prices as low as 15 Zambian kwacha, are false, according to financial expert Alexander Nkosi.
Nkosi says the Malawi’s acute shortage of forex has led to a significant gain of the Zambian kwacha against the Malawian kwacha on the streets. 
Some Zambians are taking advantage of this by buying Malawian kwacha at lucrative rates on the black market and using it to buy fuel in Malawi.
“There is a huge difference between the official exchange rates in banks/bureaus and on the black market, the rates on the streets are extremely high,”
“Zambian kwacha has significantly gained against Malawian kwacha on the streets. Some Zambians are buying Malawian kwacha at very lucrative rates on the black market and entering Malawi to go and buy fuel.” He added
In reality, petrol and diesel are more expensive in Malawi than in Zambia when compared in dollar terms.
Nkosi says the price of diesel in Malawi is K2734, equivalent to ZMW45.5 in Zambia. The price of petrol is K2530, equivalent to ZMW42 in Zambia.
