Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) has swiftly reacted to a Weekend Nation investigative story by introducing a toll-free number for customers to report bribery incidents and suspending some employees.
In its expose published on July 19 2025, our sister newspaper Weekend Nation, after a year-long investigation, reported how corrupt practices at Escom have turned new electricity connections into a backdoor business.
The story highlighted recorded evidence where Escom officials were demanding bribes for a new power connection.
In an interview yesterday, Escom chief public relations and communications officer Pilirani Phiri said they have taken the new direction following reports that some Escom employees are getting bribes for a free power connection as well as resolving faults.
He said: “This is one area we have taken to curb corruption at [Escom]. We want people to report if someone is demanding bribes.
“Apart from that, we have formally requested Nation Publications Limited to give us information of Escom employees who allegedly demanded bribes in return for electricity connections.”
In the letter that Escom has written Nation Publications Limited, the power utility is demanding full names and official posting of Escom employees implicated in the investigation and copies of all video footage or documentary evidence identifying those individuals.
Writing on Escom’s Facebook page, chief operations officer Maxwell Mulimakwenda condemned the malpractice and urged all customers to report any such incidents.
“I want to assure our customers that we do not allow our officers or employees to demand payment for electricity connections or fault resolutions as these services are provided free of charge. If you encounter this malpractice, please call 847 and report it,” he said.
Mulimakwenda also said Escom has suspended employees found guilty of these practices, with some dismissed from their posts.
Escom is asking customers to use the newly-introduced toll-free number to report bribery incidents within the organisation as it strives to address allegations that some employees are demanding money from customers to expedite electricity connections and attend to reported faults.
