Residents plead for urgent action as 10-month blackout cripples Balaka communities

Residents of several villages in Balaka District are pleading with the incoming Minister of Energy to swiftly intervene in what they describe as a “dire and forgotten crisis,” after living without electricity since December 30, 2024, due to a fallen power pole that ESCOM has yet to repair.

In an open letter addressed to the yet-to-be-appointed Energy Minister, the people of Group Village Heads Chembekezo, Chitala, Mitochi, Makoloje, Kalimba, and Nkolola expressed deep frustration over the prolonged blackout, which they say has severely disrupted their livelihoods and strained essential services.

“The power outage has severely impacted our daily lives, affecting essential services, businesses, and entertainment. We are struggling to access meal grinding services, welding, and other businesses that rely on electricity. The lack of power has caused significant inconvenience and economic hardship,” the letter reads.

The residents say their efforts to engage ESCOM officials have repeatedly failed, leaving them in darkness for nearly a year. As the rainy season approaches, they fear the situation will deteriorate further, making repairs even more difficult and isolating the communities from essential services.

Adding to their woes, the villagers report an increase in theft of ESCOM cables, with some individuals taking advantage of the dead lines to strip them for scrap, an act that could prolong the restoration process even further.

“We urge you when you get into your office to expedite repairs and restore power to our areas as soon as possible. We need your prompt attention to this matter to restore normalcy to our lives,” the letter appeals to the incoming minister.

The residents concluded by saying that the “exiting of the previous government” signifies the expiration of time for corrupt and negligent ESCOM officials who sleep on duty.”