The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) has blamed Malawians for being behind persistent blackouts in the country arguing that deforestation by citizens has led to low water levels in Shire River.
The development comes at a time when blackouts are the order of the day across the country.
However, Escom has disclosed that the situation is to go worse following a fall of water levels in the Shire River.
Speaking to the local press, Escom spokesperson Kitty Chingota said the company is now regulating water flow at 160 cubic meters per second against the required 260 cubic meters per second at Liwonde barrage.
But she was quick to mention that the problem at hand has been due to poor rainfall following El-Nino that hit the country.
“First of all, we had poor rainfall in the country and our electricity is 99 percent hydro based generated, but also citizens are also to blame for cutting down trees along our catchment area for charcoal and timber,” said Chingota.
Meanwhile, Malawians have expressed concern over the current situation of blackouts arguing that businesses which rely on electricity are being affected.
“We are not to do our businesses as usual, because of electricity, we are having power supply only at night, by 6am the power is already gone, our electricity company must do something,” said Patricio Wochi from Chiradzulu district.
John Mbewe from Machinjiri in Blantyre said: “I now go back home with only K1000 or less these days because of blackouts, the situation is just too much.”
To help in meeting the electricity demand in the country, Escom is currently installing diesel power generators while also implementing the Malawi Mozambique power inter-connection project.
66 thoughts on “Escom hits at Malawians: You are to blame for electricity shortage”
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It’s really reached a point were all we can do is watch as escom keep making excuses and find the dumbest reasons to blame the customers instead of actually finding means of alternative sources that we as Malawians can utilise during this so called crisis that we are blamed for ??
Nambo waesikomuwa chatusekasye, asowile yakuwecheta,igambile kusausya,ikwasausya achimisyene.
zaziiiiiii magetsi anayamba kuvuta liti mwatopa et
Nonsense
People resort to use of firewood because electricity tariffs are too high making electricity unaffordable by an average Malawian…
no sense
ESCOM is very right on this.
ESCOM stop using wood poles, then talk deforestation!
That’s rubbish its you ESCOM encouraging deforestation, count how many poles are erected in this country and where are these poles coming from? You blame yourself coz you lead to the mess of of this country!
What bad carpenter.
Chonena ife tilibe,nyengo yavuto! Tilape tonse Yesu akubwera.
Chonena ife tilibe,nyengo yavuto! Tilape tonse Yesu akubwera.
Did the ESCOM take part in afforestation or Reaforestation? If not how can people get their point? Most of the Department took part in planting or replanting trees knowing that 3/4 of population in malawi depend on trees to cook . U r coming here saying fwe fwe fwe fwe fwe!! Like your nationality is a Canadian
zotsatira zaumbava ndizimenezo , mukulephera kugula zipangizo zabwno kut mwina vuto lakuzima kwamagetsi mdzko mwathu muno mkucheoako , mkumadzanama pamaso pa a Malawipa “, Do u think we are Fools ?
Eskom eskom aaaaaa kkkkk
Ehede !! Zakuvutani.Next U Will Blame The Opposition
What has ESCOM done about catchment conservation?
kkk deforestation will stay as long as people eat rats and phananas kkkkk
Escom has failed malawians,you are saying dat coz we dont hv a choice,otherwise if you had a good competitor munalimmadzi inu..