The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) has disconnected electricity supply in Lilongwe City due to a K25 million outstanding debt yet to be settled by the Lilongwe City Council (LCC), The Nation has established.
The disconnection which has been in effect for two weeks, has led to chaotic traffic on the city’s roads as a result of non-functional traffic lights and street lights not working in the night.
Spokesperson for LCC, Tamara Chafunya, confirmed the disconnection, describing it as unfortunate.
She said: “We were equally surprised on July 5 to note that we could not switch on lights to commemorate independence celebrations. We actually thought there was something wrong with the metre, but a closer look revealed that the lights had been disconnected.
“We are obviously working on settling the K25 million ($55 556) bill, which has been presented to our offices, but we clearly thought they would not disconnect us in such a manner.”
LCC has been in the news recently for failing to maintain both street and traffic lights, leaving its citizens and motorists in disarray, despite being at the fore front of collecting both city and market fees.
