Traders from Limbe in Blantyre yesterday staged a rare and symbolic protest by marching to the offices of the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) to submit a petition rejecting the new Electronic Invoicing System (EIS), a tax policy set to take effect on February 1.
The protest, organised by the Limbe Indigenous Shop Owners Association in collaboration with the Small Scale Business Importers and Exporters Association, reflects growing frustration among small-scale traders who feel increasingly targeted by tax policies while struggling to survive in a harsh economic environment.
Reading the petition, the associations' secretary general Chisomo Rodger said the system will force traders to reveal detailed and sensitive business information, including how they started their businesses, where they sourced their capital, how much money they used to start, how much capital they currently hold, and the full list of stock in their shops.
The traders argued that such requirements are intrusive, unrealistic and dangerous for small businesses that often operate informally due to lack of access to finance, training and digital systems. They said the policy assumes that all traders are large, well-organised companies, when in reality most are family-run survival businesses with no proper records.
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In the background, the protest signals a deeper problem between tax authorities and the informal sector, which forms the backbone of Malawi's urban economy.
By physically marching to MRA offices, the traders were not only submitting a complaint, but sending a political and economic message: that small businesses feel overburdened, over-monitored and under-supported. The gesture reflects fear that EIS will expose them to heavy taxation, penalties and possible harassment, while offering no protection or incentives in return.
Responding to the petition, MRA head of domestic taxes Grey Balawe confirmed receipt of the letter and said the authority would review the concerns and engage the traders.
However, the protest itself suggests a crisis of trust. Many traders believe the system is less about improving efficiency and more about squeezing revenue from a struggling sector that is already absorbing the impact of high inflation, low consumer spending and unstable exchange rates.
In essence, the Limbe protest is not just about technology.
It is about economic survival, power, and fear. It shows a widening gap between policy makers and grassroots entrepreneurs, and a warning that without dialogue and protection for small businesses, tax reforms risk provoking resistance rather than compliance.
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