By Edwin Mauluka

Malawi traders have won a temporary reprieve after the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) extended the rollout of the Electronic Invoicing System (EIS) to 30 April 2026, following protests and sustained concerns from business operators.

In a statement issued on Friday, MRA management said the extension follows consultations with stakeholders.

“Following extensive consultations and feedback from various stakeholders, MRA has extended the pilot phase of the implementation of the EIS from 1st February, 2026 to 30th April, 2026,” the statement reads.

During the extended transition period, the EIS will run in parallel with existing Electronic Fiscal Devices (EFDs) to allow for a smoother shift. However, MRA warned that EFDs will no longer be permitted after the new deadline.

“During this transition period, MRA will provide technical support and assistance to all taxpayers to fully get on board with the EIS,” the authority added.

The extension follows protests by business operators, with traders in Zomba demonstrating at MRA offices on Friday. The Zomba protest came a day after similar demonstrations in Blantyre.

Meanwhile, the Human Rights Defenders Coalition (HRDC) has urged the government to completely halt the implementation of the EIS to allow for broader dialogue with affected stakeholders.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lilongwe, HRDC chairperson Michael Kaiyatsa warned that some tax policies, including the EIS rollout, risk placing an excessive burden on small businesses that lack the technical capacity and financial resilience to comply.

“Households are already struggling with rising fuel costs, soaring electricity prices and the high cost of basic goods. Recent tax measures have added further pressure, disproportionately affecting low- and middle-income earners as well as small-scale traders who form the backbone of our informal economy,” said Kaiyatsa.

While acknowledging the state’s legitimate interest in improving tax collection and formalising the economy, HRDC said reforms must be fair, proportionate and sensitive to the lived realities of ordinary Malawians.

Kaiyatsa also raised concerns over privacy and data protection, warning that policies requiring intrusive disclosure of business information without adequate safeguards raise human rights questions.

“Economic reform must not come at the cost of dignity, privacy and survival,” he said.

HRDC has since called on the government to review tax and economic measures through consultations with affected groups, particularly small-scale traders.

The EIS is a software-based system designed to enable taxpayers to issue electronic tax invoices, manage stock records and transmit transaction data to MRA in real time.

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