Two civil society organizations have abandoned plans to take the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) to court
The Human Rights Consultative Committee (HRCC) and the Malawi Civil Society-Led Black Economic Empowerment Movement (MaBLEM) had intended to challenge what they described as irregularities and political interference in the procurement process.
Speaking on Thursday, HRCC and MaBLEM National Coordinator Fryson Chodzi said the organisations had decided not to proceed with legal action after the government allowed the procurement process to continue without political involvement.
“Our intention in going to court was to ensure that procurement laws were respected and that there was no political interference. Since the authorities have allowed lawful procedures to take their course, there is no longer a reason to pursue the matter,” said Chodzi.
He commended President Peter Mutharika for what he described as respecting calls to keep political influence out of the operations of state-owned enterprises, saying public institutions should be allowed to function independently to improve service delivery.
Chodzi also dismissed claims that awarding more than one government contract to a single company is unlawful, arguing that such assertions have no legal basis.
He said companies that satisfy procurement requirements are eligible to receive multiple contracts, citing construction firm Mota-Engil as an example of a company that has previously been awarded several government projects.
“It should not become an issue simply because the company involved is locally owned. What matters is whether the procurement process complies with the law and the company meets all the required standards,” he said.
He further warned that political interference in procurement processes undermines transparency and affects the ability of public institutions to deliver quality services.
Meanwhile, ESCOM has published a notice of intention to award a contract worth K12.24 billion to Creck Hardware and General Suppliers for the supply of 33kV distribution transformers. The notice invites any queries or objections to be submitted by July 14, 2026.
