Minister of Energy and Mining Jean Mathanga has appealed to communities in Chikwawa District to protect electricity infrastructure, warning that vandalism is derailing development and costing the country millions in lost resources.
The minister made the call on Tuesday when she commissioned electricity under the Malawi Rural Electrification Programme (Marep) Phase 9 in traditional authorities (T/As) Maseya and Ndakwera in the district.
The ceremony was delayed after equipment was stolen and vandalised.
“We had planned to hold this ceremony days ago, but theft and vandalism of electricity equipment forced us to wait. This has cost us over K500 million. Please avoid vandalism so that government can channel resources to other areas,” said Mathanga.
Under Phase 9, Mwayi Primary School in T/A Maseya has been connected to the grid with two 315 kilovolt-amps (kVA) transformers.
The installation covers about four kilometres and can supply 150 to 200 households. Sixty households. So far the school and 59 have been connected.
In T/A Ndakwera, a Catholic Church-owned school received a 100kVA transformer with capacity for 150 customers. More than 30 households have already been linked.
Mathanga said government revived negotiations with Mozambique for additional power imports through the Mozambique-Malawi interconnector.
“Malawi is currently generating 551 megawatts, but it is my wish that we produce over 1 000 megawatts by 2030 so that everyone can access electricity. We are exploring solar, wind and other renewable sources to make this possible,” she said.
Mwayi Primary School head teacher Stephen Mpungu said the connection will transform learning at the school.
“Initially we had limited time to teach and encourage learners to study. Now they can study at night right in their classrooms. Teachers and learners will also have more time to interact, which should improve pass rates,” he said.
Chikwawa Central legislator Gerald Bede (Democratic Progressive Party) thanked government for the initiative and urged residents to safeguard the equipment to benefit future generations.
