![Kapito (lef) and Chingota: Differ on Escom issue]()
The Public Affairs Committee (Pac) has backed calls for government to fire Electricity Supply Corporation (Escom) management for incompetence.
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![Fr Mulomole: Fire Escom management]()
Fr Mulomole: Fire Escom management[/caption]
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![Kapito (lef) and Chingota: Differ on Escom issue]()
Kapito (lef) and Chingota: Differ on Escom issue[/caption]
Malawians are calling for Escom management to step down in the wake of persistent blackouts the country is experiencing.
Escom has warned the nation to brace for more blackouts in the next four months due to lower water levels in the Lake Malawi and Shire River, the excuse which Shire River Basin Management Programme has dismissed.
Pac joined the chorus of Consumers Association of Malawi (Cama) which has also dismissed Escom’s excuses, blaming it for being short-sighted and lack of forecast and competence.
Pac's spokesperson, Father Peter Mulomole said in an interview with Capital Radio that Escom managment was lying to the nation about the cause of the blackouts.
''They are cheating the nation. The best way they could do is to keep quiet. Escom management is failing, they should step down,'' said Mulomole.
Mulomole said it was not ideal for government to maintain the Escom management which has proven to be incompetent.
''Why keeping people who are incompetent? Escom needs reform. We can’t talk of public reforms when we have institutions like Escom. Its time to walk the talk''.
However, Escom through its Public Relations Manager, Kitty Chingota said it stands by its reasons behinds the blackouts that are now longer than before the institution rehabilitated its power generation plants.
''We can’t comment on other people's opinion. We stand by our statement, if people want to verify the facts they can come to our offices,'' said Chingota.
Cama's Executive Director, John Kapito earlier this week said it was baffling that the blackout situation was getting worse under the DPP administration unlike during the PP administration, and suspected the Escom management of sabotage.
Kapito has since urged consumers to demand money back for the period that they are being denied access to electricity since they have tofind other alternative source of energy, saying they are entitled to that refund based on the contract they have with Escom through the
Service Charter.
And Shire River Basin Management Programme has dismissed Escom's excuses of lower levels in the river and the Lake of Malawi, saying there has not been any change in the level or flow of water in the river.
Reports indicate that Escom's power generation plants have developed faults, causing the blackouts; and an advert in the daily newspapers by the company seemed to confirm this.
Escom is expected to shut down Kapichira Hydro Power Station in order to do some scheduled maintanance works which will reduce the country's generation capacity to 213.04 mega watts against the forecast maximum demand of 270 mega watts.
Shutting down of the power generation plant will only worsen the blackout situation, which is increasingly becoming unbearable by day.
Fr Mulomole: Fire Escom management[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_92810" align="alignright" width="600"]
Kapito (lef) and Chingota: Differ on Escom issue[/caption]
Malawians are calling for Escom management to step down in the wake of persistent blackouts the country is experiencing.
Escom has warned the nation to brace for more blackouts in the next four months due to lower water levels in the Lake Malawi and Shire River, the excuse which Shire River Basin Management Programme has dismissed.
Pac joined the chorus of Consumers Association of Malawi (Cama) which has also dismissed Escom’s excuses, blaming it for being short-sighted and lack of forecast and competence.
Pac's spokesperson, Father Peter Mulomole said in an interview with Capital Radio that Escom managment was lying to the nation about the cause of the blackouts.
''They are cheating the nation. The best way they could do is to keep quiet. Escom management is failing, they should step down,'' said Mulomole.
Mulomole said it was not ideal for government to maintain the Escom management which has proven to be incompetent.
''Why keeping people who are incompetent? Escom needs reform. We can’t talk of public reforms when we have institutions like Escom. Its time to walk the talk''.
However, Escom through its Public Relations Manager, Kitty Chingota said it stands by its reasons behinds the blackouts that are now longer than before the institution rehabilitated its power generation plants.
''We can’t comment on other people's opinion. We stand by our statement, if people want to verify the facts they can come to our offices,'' said Chingota.
Cama's Executive Director, John Kapito earlier this week said it was baffling that the blackout situation was getting worse under the DPP administration unlike during the PP administration, and suspected the Escom management of sabotage.
Kapito has since urged consumers to demand money back for the period that they are being denied access to electricity since they have tofind other alternative source of energy, saying they are entitled to that refund based on the contract they have with Escom through the
Service Charter.
And Shire River Basin Management Programme has dismissed Escom's excuses of lower levels in the river and the Lake of Malawi, saying there has not been any change in the level or flow of water in the river.
Reports indicate that Escom's power generation plants have developed faults, causing the blackouts; and an advert in the daily newspapers by the company seemed to confirm this.
Escom is expected to shut down Kapichira Hydro Power Station in order to do some scheduled maintanance works which will reduce the country's generation capacity to 213.04 mega watts against the forecast maximum demand of 270 mega watts.
Shutting down of the power generation plant will only worsen the blackout situation, which is increasingly becoming unbearable by day.