Northern traders warn of further shop closures and Wednesday street protests as the EIS standoff escalates.
A tax system dispute is turning visible fast, with Northern traders warning that shop closures may continue and street protests could start soon if the Electronic Invoicing System (EIS) is not suspended.
Misryoum reports that the Northern Region Business Association says the standoff with tax authorities has escalated sharply, warning of prolonged closures and public demonstrations if government officials refuse to pause the controversial rollout of EIS.. The group argues that the process has moved ahead despite concerns raised repeatedly by the business community.
The association’s leadership says EIS is already straining day-to-day operations, with compliance becoming harder to manage amid ongoing economic pressure.
In this context, Chembe Kasambara, chairperson of the association, said the system has affected businesses negatively and that authorities “went ahead with implementation” even after warnings.. Misryoum notes that he framed the issue as practical, not theoretical, arguing that the concerns raised on the ground were not properly addressed.
Kasambara pointed to factors he said are at the heart of the dispute, including persistent foreign exchange shortages and the complexities of transactions conducted in US dollars.. He suggested that these realities make EIS compliance not only difficult, but in some situations unrealistic for traders trying to keep supply moving.
This matters because when compliance meets shortages and high costs, the burden quickly shifts from policy to livelihoods, and small delays can become large economic disruptions.
The association warned that shops would remain closed and could choke supply chains, and it set a timeline for escalation. It said if there is no resolution by Tuesday, traders will take to the streets on Wednesday, potentially marking one of the most visible business protests in recent years.
Meanwhile, Misryoum reports that the Malawi Revenue Authority has responded firmly. MRA Commissioner General Felix Tambulasi said EIS is neither new nor negotiable, and urged businesses to work with MRA officers if they face technical difficulties.
For traders, the dispute appears to be increasingly about trust, timing, and survival in an environment already shaped by forex scarcity and shrinking margins, according to Misryoum.
At this stage, both sides appear to be digging in, and the risk is that the standoff between policy enforcement and business conditions could spill into wider instability, making dialogue harder as shops stay shut and tensions rise.