Growing up at Nkhoma Mission was an absolute joy for us boys. Throughout the year, there was never a shortage of ventures to occupy our time and spirit. Our amusements ranged, broadly, from engaging in spirited sports using improvised equipment to the excitement of hunting birds, alongside picking from the abundant domestic and wild fruits that nature generously supplied. These pastimes sustained our youthful energy and filled our days with lasting delight.
The girls had their own leisure pursuits too, though fewer in number compared with those of the boys. Their days, however, involved several important household chores. Among these was pounding maize to remove the husk, then carrying it to the maize mill to be ground into flour. The mill upon which the Mission community depended was located in Madetsa Village, just beyond the Mission’s borders. Without exception, every family brought their maize there for processing, underscoring its vital role in our daily existence.
On occasion, my brother and I would accompany our sisters on the journey to the mill. I was soon struck by the sight and sound of the mill’s diesel engine, which thrummed deeply and continuously while belching thick, black smoke into the sky. The caretaker, Mr Zimba, was a jovial character who combined his work of assessing the amount of husked maize brought and calculating the milling charge with lively storytelling. Our fascination rested not so much on the stories but more on his rather strange accent, which differed quite sharply from the local accent.
Yet, the mill was not without its vulnerabilities. Periodically, it would break down for days, leaving many without access to its services. During these trying times, milling became a true test of endurance, requiring lengthy trips in search of other mills that were few and far between. These, too, without exception, were diesel-powered.
Fast forward fifty years, and the landscape has changed dramatically. The once ubiquitous diesel mills have nearly vanished, replaced largely by electric-powered mills that have become the new norm. Now, it would take a determined search to locate a diesel mill, which has effectively become a relic of the past.
Several reasons lie behind the demise of diesel mills, chief among them being the cost of running them. A fixed sum of money stretches further when used on an electric mill than on a diesel one. Additionally, electric mills produce far less environmental mess and are simpler to operate. From an ecological viewpoint, diesel mills emit significant amounts of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, while electric mills offer a cleaner alternative. Presently, the country enjoys a proliferation of maize mills, nearly all powered by electricity.
What has happened in the realm of maize milling is now poised to occur in the automotive sector. Nearly all motor vehicles currently run on fossil fuels—petrol, diesel, or jet fuel. Aside from their obvious environmental drawbacks, fuel accessibility has become increasingly problematic. This problem, though longstanding, has become heavier recently due to acute foreign exchange shortages.
Malawi does not produce oil; all fuel is imported. Fuel imports constitute one of the largest expenses on the country’s import bill, totalling between $600 million and $700 million annually. This heavyweight figure dwarfs foreign exchange revenues from tobacco, the country’s main export earner. Projections for this year place tobacco export earnings at just over $500 million, not quite enough to cover fuel import costs alone. This imbalance is precarious and clearly unsustainable. The nation must pursue one of two paths: diversify into other lucrative industries or develop local alternatives to fossil fuels.
It is my firm conviction that both routes should be pursued simultaneously. Regarding local fuel alternatives, I have long advocated for the adoption of biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel. However, enthusiasm and resolve from authorities have been insufficient to propel these options forward.
Another promising alternative is the adoption of electric vehicles. Admittedly, a great deal remains to be done by government, industry, and society alike to make this vision a reality. Without such efforts, energy challenges will persist. My sincere hope is that Malawi will soon witness a sweeping migration to electric vehicles, overcoming any obstacles, whether genuine or imagined. I have every confidence that within a decade or two, we will look back on fossil fuel vehicles with the nostalgic fondness currently reserved for the diesel maize mills of yesteryear.
If a technological revolution could transform how maize is processed, it is well within the realm of possibility that it can similarly revolutionise our transport systems, ushering in cleaner, more sustainable mobility for future generations. This transformation is not merely desirable—it is imperative, and the time to begin is now.