France, March 20 -- In Milawi's capital city of Lilongwe, Charles Kabenan desciribed his recent experience when visiting a shop to purchase building materials. The previous day, the total cost of the items had been K1,195,400 (US$681.38), yet within mere hours, it had surged to K1,390,000 (US$792.30).

"As I hurried from shop to shop with my senior welder, who was handling the quotations, desperately seeking any possible savings, a concerned shop attendant discreetly pulled me aside and said 'Just buy what you need as quickly as possible. That's the boss on the phone right now,' he warned, nodding towards a man deep in conversation. 'They're going to raise the prices any moment.'"

"True to his word, by the time I was walking out, the pri...