Community gives Escom 7days to connect power
People from Mwambetamya II and Mwafilaso II villages in Paramount Chief Kyungu in Karonga District have given Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) seven days to connect their houses with power.
The disgruntled community members say they will hold vigils at Escom office in Karonga if no action takes place at the expiry of the seven-day ultimatum.
In an interview on Sunday, the group’s chairperson Felix Mwambafula said they are tired of waiting for Escom to connect their houses.
He said: “We have persevered for a long time. Some people paid their connection fees of K17 500 in 2016 while others paid in 2018 and in 2020.
“However, efforts to engage Escom on the same through petitions and physical meetings have proved futile; hence, the decision to mobilise resources in readiness for the vigils. We will only leave Escom premises after they connect the 36 houses in the two villages.”
On his part, Jaspa Mwanyemele of Mwafilaso II Village said life is hard for his grocery business as he cannot buy a refrigerator to stock cold drinks.
He said: “I also want to diversify my business to barbershop and phone charging.
“I paid for my first house to get connected in 2018 and did the same for the second house in 2020.”
However, Karonga Escom officer Robins Kamanga said he was not aware of the said petition, but was quick to say that previously, the office was rocked with shortage of materials.
“The challenge was that we did not have the materials for the connections, but right now we have acquired the materials. We request them to come forward with their connection forms so we take it from there,” he said.
