MHC ordered to electrify Lilongwe houses in 3 months
The High Court in Lilongwe has given Malawi Housing Corporation (MHC) up to end of November to bring power to Area 49 Sector 1 in the city to meet its contractual obligations.
According to a recent consent judgement on the case, the court ruled that if MHC fails to respect the order, residents of the affected area will have the right to enforce judgement on all their claims in damages and compensation over MHC’s failure to give them electricity.
“By consent of the parties hereto it is hereby ordered and directed that…the defendant [MHC] provide electricity to the plaintiffs’ Area 49 Sector 1 within 3 months from the 1st September 2012 in full and final settlement of the claims herein.
“[That] the defendant pay the sum of legal fees within 21 days of this [judgement] in party and party costs. Any default by the defendant shall entitle the plaintiff to enforce judgement on all the claims made as if judgement was entered on the same,†reads the judgement in part.
About 70 residents of Area 49 in Lilongwe sued MHC for breach of agreement and blocking efforts to connect electricity to their houses over five years despite collecting development charges in 2007.
The residents also demanded about K30 million in refunds for solar equipment, generator sets and gas cookers which they said they bought while awaiting Escom electricity.
Meanwhile, MHC has informed the affected residents that it has finally paid Escom charges for bringing electricity to their area.
