A stitch in time saves nine.

The face of the devaluation of the kwacha, one of the conditionalities by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) before the Breton Woods Institutions unlock aid to Malawi, is here and it is rearing its ugly head both on ordinary Malawians and the business community.

Already, some minibus operators have hiked fares and Illovo Sugar Malawi Limited last week announced that the price of sugar has gone... up by 23 percent to recover some production costs.

Today, the Travel Operators Association of Malawi have raised concern that many prospective passengers who booked air tickets are not coming back for confirmation and instead, they are opting for cheaper means of transport.

Then, there is the story of Kayelekera Uranium Mine in Karonga where workers on Friday walked off the mine site, an industrial action that effectively disrupted operations at the country’s mining flagship..

The workers downed their tools to force Paladin Africa management to effect a pay rise in view of the devaluation of the kwacha.

A catalogue of challenges brought about by the devaluation is long. Without taking sides in any of these issues, one expects parties involved to manage the situation so that the economy is not hurt further.

There is always a better way of handling such challenges until a win-win situation by both parties is reached.

Though the domino effects of devaluation were expected and arguably the only way to heal the country’s ailing economy, it remains a fact that the devaluation has occasioned pain on Malawians and businesses.

As such, it is incumbent on government to effectively furnish people with information on short and medium-term strategies in place to cushion the pain.

A timely word on how long people and businesses will have to endure the shocks can go a long way in managing situations and misunderstandings that may get out of hand.

For example, when exactly are the donors stepping in with mitigating initiatives to minimise the shocks and in what way?

A stitch in time saves nine.