Malawi continued blackouts: Activist calls for ‘incompetent’ Escom board to resign

Sep 16, 2016 Politics 113
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Escom Malawi load-shedding

Following rampant blackouts that are rocking the country, activist Ben Chiza Mkandawire has called for the resignation of Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) board for failing to make sure that Malawians have electricity.

Writing on his Facebook wall, Mkandawire said it is high time Escom officials were held responsible for the electricity situation which has seen parts of the country having power for only two hours a day.

“This is the time for the government to address the issue or else the officials at Escom should be held responsible and they must resign with immediate effect.

Escom Malawi load-shedding
Blackout now order of the day (Library)

“The whole Escom board seem to be incompetent since they have been betraying the nation with tariffs and poor service delivery. It is high time to invite competition and privatise it completely with foreign companies taking over monopoly,” he added.

Mkandawire further said that blackouts which are a daily song in the country have greater negative impacts on communications, industries and operation of various services.

“It’s not rocket science but electricity supply in Malawi has affected the country’s economic growth and continues to put off investors in every sector. We can live with humiliation of poverty but this has to stop since it has failed Malawians,” wrote Mkandawire.

He then urged government to invest in other energy sources rather than only relying on hydroelectricity.

Ben Chiza Mkandawire
Ben Chiza Mkandawire has made the call.

“If can’t we sustain our hydro power plants and extract energy from moving water we might as well focus our investments in solar power, let’s train our people to generate their own power with government and private sector support on solar panels for families that can’t afford them,” Wrote Mkandawire.

Poor electricity supply in the country is a daily song sung by Malawians as Escom is yet to provide alternative solutions to the electricity challenges other than waiting for rains to raise water levels in the Shire River.

The power supplier’s tendency to offer excuses for its incompetency has irked many Malawians including media practitioner Gracian Tukula who called out Escom for its consistency in providing blackouts.

He wrote: “Let me break this down. Escom’s mandate is to supply electricity, not excuses on why it can’t. Give us power all day everyday basi. How you do it is none of my business.”

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113 Comments

  1. aboma vomelani ma company akjnja alowe muno athanfizile escom! magetsi akuthima coz iwowo amapanga magetsi ochepa pAmene ogwiritsa ntchito magetsi wo ndi anthu ambiri , Ndiye atakhala abwera ma company ena akhoza kugawana zigawo ngati escom itenge chigawo cha kummwera , company ina itenge pakati and ina kumpoto basi ! pamenepo aliyense akhoza kumalhika magetsi okwanira kuchigawo chake then vuto lakuthima kwa magetsi lidzakhala malemu! koma poti a escom wo amakuikani banzi pakamwa and ena ainu muli ndi share komweko I hope simungalore kuti company zina zibwere

  2. Magetsi dziko lathu aonjeza afika pa chimake.vuto ndi kuba palibenso china ai

  7. Escom Malawi is the saddest excuse for a “service company” I have ever had to do business with. The excuses are pathetic. There are so many alternatives to the system you are trying to use. The problem is not with solutions. The problem is with the people spending money on themselves, and calling it research. There are diesel generators, that run on methane gas, which is produced naturally, in waste water. There are wind mills that can be tied to existing power grids. There are solar fields, that can be laid out, or solar tiles for roofing. There

  9. They will start telling us sheet stories wen the they see that nthawi yamavote tawandikila and ife mbweeee!!! Zowona bwana!!!! Mmmmmmmm

  10. mmm but is too much we can’t even pass a day without black out n akumayaka tikugona timalipira DSTV but sitikuonela we have our small scale business which needs electricity ndie mukuganiza tizidya chan

  11. Ofunika kuchotsa Minister yoyangani dza Magitsi chifukwa palibe chomwe akupanga apa.infact all management of Eascom must be delsolved

  12. Vuto la malawi ndikupenga kwa asogoleri, amene amangowononga ndi kuba ndlama za Boma, sitizakhalanso ndi musogoleri ngati kamuzu.mbamva zikungomaba, oipa ndife ovota mosadzindikira.

  16. komadi escom ikutionjeza panopa magetsi kuyaka the whole day tikumachita kudabwa kuti maybe kuli birth day ya ceo wa ku escom.panopa tikumachita kudziwa kuti magetsi azima nthawi yakutiyakuti koma nthawi yoyakila hiish palibe amadziwa.this only shows how incompetent escom is.but the question is amatsata ndondomeko zanji akafuna kugawa magetsi coz madela athu enafe kuzima kwake ndi konyanya kodi ifeyo amationa kutani kodi akuwona ngati magetsiwo sitiwafuna

  24. vuto lozimazima…..magetsi ndi lakale kale not because of water only…Our government have to do something or else the must buy new machine….escom is a one of big company in Malawi….but the way they use operating this company is like small thing u can apply electricity today but they can finish holyear b4 the come which is totally nonsense….and the way is exmpive just to connect yooh… And after all this problems i realised that is a greed selfishand stupid Ness of our government since late bingu everything in a country becoming upset down (am always feeling shame on my mother land malawi)

  28. Koma ine ndikudabwa mukamati vuto ndi madzi nanga usiku poti magets wo akumayaka madela onse nde kuti madziwo akumakhala kuti azadza? Mmawa kuphwela zinazi musamaese athu prs nanga popeza pali athu akumangochi omwe magets awo anachokela mu lake malawi koma akudandaulaso nde kuti nakoso aphwela madziwo? Funani zokamba zina tive

  29. No this problm waz made by our previouse leaders they never ever dreamt of upgrading our seasytem to much our growing population now the pop iz greater than power suply itself then yo want somebody who haz just been employed yesterday to
    rectfy this ploblem?ask the gvt to find means of this problem

  31. I think the best way is that, the government should leave the board to operate its services own its own .we should not politisize in in these two boards i hope they will be some changes 5yrs coming.

  32. Ahlomwe + ayeo inu kakukuknika ka Malawika.koma kuba ndikupansa ma udindo m’boma chotsecho simutha kugwira nthitoyo.Dziko liti lomwe lingakhale siku lonse no Magesi nkumat chuma chayamba kuyenda bwino?

  37. Apa ndiye kenako tingobwerano ndi magetsi a solar dziko lonse la malawi chifukwa ndi momwe mvula ikugwera masiku ano mmmm mtsinje wathu madzi ndi vuto ndithu

  40. The prudent person runs when sees danger to me its wise to do so to pave the for others this problem is not for one person to solve but people point a finger single person, you can’t be agood cooker while lacking materials

  45. Magesi azidzima ndiku state house komwe kenako muzaona kuti changu chichitika, koma matha ndiomwe amatipwetekesa olo khani ya madzi tikukambai ikonzedwa bwanji ngati bungwe la za madzilo likupureka ndalama kwa mkadzi wapulezidenti mmalo moti ndalamadzo zigwire tchito yokonza zithu?

  47. Kkkkkkkkk ife kuno ku Northern province vuto limeneli kulibe. Madzi saphwera kuno. We are planning to start exporting some water to you guys. We are just finalising Memorandum of understanding kkkkkkkkk.

  51. KODI INU ACHIZA TADZINGODYANI NDALAMA ZAMABUNGWE MUMABELA AZUNGU MUKUGANIZA KUTI ZIMENE AKUKUUZANI ZA WATER LEVEL NDIBODZA CHABWINO NDIKUPEMPHENI KUNTUNDAKO MUDZIKODZERA MUNYANJAMO IKAMADZADZA ZIYENDA APO BIIII OLO BOARD NDI MANAGEMENT YA ESCOM ITATULA PANSI UDINDO PALIBE CHOMWE CHINGASINTHE NDE POTI PAJA PA NYASALAND CHINACHILICHONSE TIMALOWETSA NDALE TINGOTI DPP IKUTHIMITSA MAGETSI ENAWO ASANGALALE

  56. Mukamamva kuti za ziiiiiiiiii nkhani zake ndi zimenezi kodi ndi liti limene A Escom azangokhalako osaipwzela zifukwa nyengo, ndipo sindikudziwa kuti akamati akupita ku ntchito mmawa Amati akukapanga chani coz panopa taona kulephera kwawo ndipo zikutikwana Magets omwewo kwina kumayaka kwina yayi nde zichani zimenezo, Chongofunika yapa mungovomeleza muzitule pansi Basi muzamenyedwa nazo ulele zimenezi musamatinyase sitingakhale mumdima pamene magetsi tili nawo nde mungosiya

  61. Yes this was not a political issue, its a national issue and the Escom officials should at least find plan B for these blackouts otherwise peoples minds are now dismayed with such blackouts zoonadi madzi mu mtsinje wa Shire mulibe okwanila komabe magawidwe a magetsi pakhale dongosolo lokomera wina aliyetse chifukwa kunena zoona madera ena magetsi sakuthimathima pomwe ena its too much.

  62. Let Me Agree With Mr Nkandawire That Escom Board Members Must Resign.Mukutukwanitsa President.Munalembedwa Ntchito Koma Mukulephera.Fotokozani Momveka Bwino Amalawi Adziwe Vuto Lalikulu Kuti Magetsi Azikhala Wothima Tsiku Lonse Nchani?Munene Checheni Chikuchitika Coz Amalawi Atopa Nazo Izi.Magetsi Tikuwafuna Zigayo Zizilira Tsiku Lonse.Anthu Asafe Ndi Njala Chimanga Ali Nacho.Mwatani Inu!

  63. As Mr president chatter a plane with 85 delegates for one meeting ….. and here Mr ….. a qualified electrical engineer working at a high risking site with not even a helmet trying to ensure electricity supply is available … where is your math literacy.

  65. Government of Malawi has got shares in Escom, and who’s to blame here?
    Both the shareholders are to blame.
    There is no way in this world as if the country struggles to reach its power demand supply to its consumers. In additional to this,that’s why Malawi is the poorest country in the Southern Equatorial Region.
    Because from its rebirth as a sovereignty nation from the British in 1964, it didn’t plan well in Energy production.
    You can believe me this that the same Nkula/ Tedzani falls are the same supplies of hydroelectric power stations to consumers now almost 5 decades.
    Why not to call other electricity companies to operates its services in Malawi for the better competition in the market?
    How has Malawi population grown to relay only on these hydro power stations?
    How many companies fail or desert to operate business in Malawi?
    How many local entrepreneurs fail to generate business goals in Malawi?
    Economy to grow in today’s environment it needs to attract foreign and local investors to the economy activities.
    Mining, industrialisation, Manufacturing won’t come in Malawi as it relay on Agricultural companies which don’t use much volume of electricity to its operations.
    If this present government doesn’t look or plan properly on investing in Energy, then we forget about Malawi’s economy turn back.

  69. Kodi a Ben kandawire andapangapo chani ku dziko la Malawi choti a titha kuchiloza? Vuto lakuzima kwa magesi its Not a man made problem. Go 2 our generating site and see why we r having blackouts.

    1. This was not a political issue its a national issue and Ben Mkandawire was talking on behalf of poor Malawians do not critised him he was quet right, zinthu zidzikuyenda kumbali ya magetsi ofcourse madzi mu mtsinje wa Shire mulibe okwanira komabe Escom idzigawa magetsi mwachilungamo, I repeat this was a national concern.

    2. In other words, wat u sayin is there is nothin u cn bout that???
      U guys r supposd to be innovative, come up with ideas, stop sayin kut madzi akuphwela mu shire…so wat, we are aware of that,…y the hell u there for???

    3. Edward, u r true this problem came in 1981. It has been zea many years. During Bakili it resurfaced they thought of interconnect 2 moshiko. Wen they reached advanced level of payment, they discovered zat almost all de money from tobacco will b used up. They just leave it. Bingu also tried 2 do something he also ralised the cost is too high. Wen de problem resurfaced during Bakili, engineers thot of removing a ridge lik on de top of shire so zat more water can b flowing 2 shire. Those cosened wit environment refused saying de lake will dry. The option was 2 build another power station and they built it was commissioned by JB. Lets just pray 4 de rain 2 start in gd time and zat kamwamba 2 start soon. Apo biiiii mavutowa aakalipo.

    4. Your Peter and Dpp are so low in their heads that they cant find solutions .All they know is mismanagement of funds and stealing.577bn stolen by Dpp would have bought power from Mozambique. What about 92bn by Bingu.?

    6. Edward chirwa u r totally having a misguided information. Where r u taking those figures? Electricity we do nt buy lik ironsheets. Zat u only buy 1 time. U can come up with your own solution rather zat 18million malawian waiting for 1 person 2 in de name of a president 2 b thinking 4 them. Even our on engineers has NO solutions. Ask those graduate from polytechnic.

  70. Mukazalowa anthu andale mukuwafunawo muazatipatsa magetsiwo ndale basi pamalawi KOMA GOD IS GREAT mukutanganidwa ndi ulemelelo wa dziko la pansi inu

  73. Enanu mukuti anthu achuluka ogwilitsa magetsi chifukwa akugawa pali nzelu pamenepo? Zinayamba liti? Ali ee tigula ma generator eee tigula makina amphavu mpaka liti? Mvula ikabwela yambili eee madzi achuluka zaiiii basi kukazizila June July ambili mumagwilitsa ma heater nde tizigawa. Muzigopanga zofuna zanuzo tazolowela coz tilibe chonena

  74. Hello, Have you stopped using charcoal and moved to gas or other alternatives? Use Escom timber poles?ESCOM is not using them anyway Consider our forests and the effects of deforestation.

  79. Ndiyeno kuzima kwamagetsi out of 30 days uwona kuti wagwilitsa ntchito 7 days ndiye umve bill yake ngati yachaka chonsetu

  82. Ndiye si bwana wa pa malawi ameneyo mpaka resign! sinayambe nda mvapo zimenezo ineyo kuti bwana wakuti wakuti wapaka resign chifukwa walepherea ntchito yake,malodza amenewo. kapena kuti maloto achumba kuti ninalota ndili ndimwana chosecho sangabereke.

  85. They should for sure they even dont know how life is without electricity and water 24/7.escom has no vision we are asick and sinking boat!

  86. ndiye wobwerayo madzi akawatenga kuti? zingogulani masolar panel dzuwa ndi losayamba ili. u wil also save ur money paying bill

  91. Most definitely they must quit, infact we see no difference having electricity or not . Sabotage yavuta ku Malawi its better they resign akakana pakhale force-resignation coz this is terrible , much businesses have been affected hence Malawi’s economy is negatively affected. QUIT !! ( #Escom_nyimbo_yomwe_timaimba-tili_ana ) tired and disappointed

  98. I don’t think the accusation should go to escom boad only, the GOVT should also take part of it for failing to provide a valid solutiom(s) to existing problem.

  102. And then how do we become productive when energy is unavailable 90% of the time? Is there any wonder why Malawi has now been rated the poorest country in the world? Production is directly linked to a country’s economic growth and yet production is dependent on availability of energy. But which board is prepared to step down? In Malawi the word ‘resign’ does not exist. There are so many areas in which this country is failing. I cannot catalogue them all. Everyone is able to see even school-going kids are able to tell that all is not well in this country of plenty and Mkandawire has a point.

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