Escom’s K35m donation to safe motherhood shocks Cama

The Consumers Association of Malawi (Cama) has expressed shock at Escom’s K35 million (about $87 500) donation to the Presidential Initiative on Safe Motherhood.

The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) made the donation, meant for construction of a waiting shelter at a function President Joyce Banda attended in Ntcheu on Monday.

Reads a statement issued on Thursday signed by Cama executive director John Kapito: “We are shocked as a consumers body to learn that Escom, in its current poor financial status, has donated to the Presidential Initiative on Safe Motherhood K35 million.

“We are greatly shocked because the donation is being done at a time when Escom tariffs are continuously being adjusted upwards and consumers can no longer afford the current escalating tariffs.”

Cama said the consumers experience continuous blackouts in the country and Escom cannot generate enough power to meet the current consumer demand.

Cama said: “Currently ,Escom is failing to connect electricity to many Malawians and citing lack of funding as one of its challenges and thereby consumers are charged high costs in order to get connected to electricity.

“Escom is continuously claiming that it is unable to break even and make profits with the current tariffs hence its failure to rehabilitate its plants and generate enough power due to lack of funds.”

Cama alleged that the Escom board and management were simply looking for political patronage and sympathy from the President with such a donation for their own economic and political relevance.

Escom spokesperson Kitty Chingota said in an interview her organisation would not comment on the Cama statement.

She said Escom would rather issue a statement to explain their social obligation and plough back to the communities.

She challenged that Escom would continue playing that social responsibility.

ESCOM’S DONATION OF THIRTY FIVE MILLION KWACHA TO THE PRESIDENT