Minister decries Escom ‘bad’ policy

Minister of Energy Ibrahim Matola has admitted that the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi’s (Escom) policy for customers to buy own accessories to be connected to electricity is not good.

He said the policy is a breeding ground for vandalism, theft and corruption.

Speaking in Parliament in Lilongwe on Thursday when he responded to questions from members of Parliament (MPs) on why customers are being asked to buy their own equipment, the minister said some have been stealing Escom equipment to sell to customers who want to get connected.

“So, people are vandalising materials to sell to others. It is the same equipment circulating,” said Matola.

He added that the system may breed corruption and feared that standards might be compromised as people buy according to their capacity.

“There is need to find a way of dealing with the issue, as the policy is also hindering people from getting connected to electricity,” said Matola.

Escom has a backlog of over 60 000 applications for connections dating back to 2016.

Electricity access remains low in the country, with only about 13 percent of the population connected to the national grid.

Machinga East MP Esther Jolobala of United Democratic Front expressed concern that people will end up buying substandard materials to get connected.

“Will there be no problems in the future? Since people are being asked to buy, they will go for cheaper ones and they do not know the standards,” she wondered.

Escom chief executive officer Kamkwamba Kumwenda recently said the utility firm is going through financial challenges and is struggling to connect more people.

He said the power supply company is currently grappling with many challenges in the power sector following the unbundling of Escom.

Kumwenda said since the unbundling, Escom has never made a profit and it buys electricity at a price much higher than what it offers to the consumer.