back to top

Minister Matola concerned with applications’ backlog at ESCOM

Published on:

Share post:

Minister of Energy Ibrahim Matola has expressed concern over delays by Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) to clear the backlog of applications under the Malawi Electricity Access Project (MEAP).

Matola made the remarks on Wednesday when he paid a surprise visit to ESCOM Offices at Game Complex and Power House located in Old Town in Lilongwe.

He said his visit follows an incident where a gentleman who decided to splash out urine due to frustration that ESCOM took ages to connect its customers to its greed.

Minister Matola in a surprise visit to Escom’s Game Complex Office

“Most people applied for electricity in Malawi under the project in 2016 few were connected while some of them until today have not been connected,” he said.

Matola said he was not impressed looking at the figures of those who have been assisted hence the sudden visit on how they are handling the applicants and complaints.

Apart from MEAP issues, Matola also visited the Power Station where faults are handled.

He urged workers to give good customer care when answering queries from people as well as avoiding indulging into politics.

He however assured Malawians that the President Lazurus Chakwera and his Tonse led government is doing everything possible to make sure people are connected to electricity.

ESCOM Regional Manager for the Centre George Matukuta acknowledged that they are indeed genuine complaints and others emanating from lack of knowledge.

“We will improve in communication with the customers so that they should know what we are doing and addressing the short falls,” he said.

Matukuta added that the utility company has been assured of resources to clear the backlog in MEAP and other projects.

Minister Matola interacts with workers at Escom’s Power Station in Lilongwe

According to him, in MEAP project, ESCOM is aspiring to connect 180,000 customers with a backlog of 72000 but reduced it to 35,000 nationwide.

Headteacher at Mtemambalame Secondary School, Forget Chiphale, who brought his complaint at ESCOM said he is yet to be assisted of electricity connection of teachers’ houses at the school.

“ESCOM connected only houses five houses leaving out six houses. We have been coming here with this complaint for so many times but to no avail,” he said.

Chiphale was optimistic that the minister’s visit will speed up the connection to the houses at the school.


Discover more from Nthanda Times

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Related articles

Bullets and Silver Share Points in Super League Opener

The Defending TNM Super League Champions, FCB Nyasa Bullets and Lilongwe giants, Silver Strikers shared the spoils following their 1-1 draw in their opening fixture of the 2023 TNM Super League season. 

Passion Center for Children Constructs 20 Houses for Vulnerable Youths in Zomba District

Passion Center for Children, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting vulnerable children, has revealed its plans to construct 20 houses under the Child Headed Household Program in Zomba district.

Shire valley transformation Programme to establish 10,000 hectares of forest

About 10,000 hectares of forest are expected to be established in the four districts of Neno, Chikwawa, Nsanje and Mwanza by the end of the second phase of the Shire Valley Transformation programme which runs from 2022 to 2028.

Chakwera courts Fortune 500 Club to invest in Malawi

President Dr. Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera, who is currently in New York, US, for the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), has asked Fortune 500 Club owners to seriously consider investing in Malawi, assuring that his government will provide them with a fertile environment for the growth of their business.

Discover more from Nthanda Times

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading