Army chief warns Malawi’s enemies
The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) has disclosed that it has so far distributed 170,000 of the targeted 350, 000 light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs.
Escom is distributing the nine and 12 watts LED bulbs to reduce the amount of power the country uses for lighting.
The project is expected to reduce the persistent black outs being experienced in the country.
The power needed to light one, 100 watts incandescent bulb, can light up to 10 LED bulbs.
Escom’s Public Relations Officer, George Mituka said the corporation intends to reach all their customers but the power utility has since started the distribution with high density low income areas.
“We will reach out to almost every customer by the end of the project but for now we have started with high density low income urban areas. Those are the areas whose lighting is predominantly by incandescent bulbs as revealed by a survey we conducted,” he said.
Escom is expected to save between 30 to 50 megawatts when the K4 billion project winds up.
MALAWI Defence Force (MDF) C o m m a n d e r , General Griffin Supuni- Phiri, has warned that his officers will deal with anyone threatening the security of the country from both within and outside.
The MDF boss said while the security organ believes in professionalism and will always desist from taking the law into their own hands, the forces have an obligation to ensure there is peace in the country and that anyone threatening that peace is properly dealt with.
He was speaking yesterday at Kamuzu Barracks Parade Square during inter-religious prayers which were attended by President Peter Mutharika, Vice- President Saulosi Chilima and other senior government officials.
“I want to assure you, Your Excellency, that as your soldiers, we are ready whether it is day time or night time to fight anyone who wants to bring confusion in this country, whether he is a mercenary from outside or from within.
“We are buttressing security and we want to assure you to have peaceful nights because we will defend this country at all cost,” said Supuni-Phiri to Mutharika.
He also pledged that the MDF will do everything possible to conserve the environment by, among other things, protecting forest reserves and planting trees where they have been cut.
The MDF chief has since asked Mutharika to help the institution to have its own military hospital at Kamuzu Barracks by providing resources towards the project.
“There is a piece of land just outside [Kamuzu Barracks] which was reserved for the hospital. We spend a lot of money for referrals but once we have the hospital here, a lot of Malawians, including civilians will benefit,” said Supuni- Phiri.
Responding to the request by the MDF head, Mutharika said in the next few years, the hospital dream will be a reality.
He also hailed MDF soldiers who are in peacekeeping missions, saying their reputation and integrity have been adored by many people both in Africa and the whole world.
“I would also like to commend our soldiers for taking part in different areas of development. You have been very key in areas like road constructions. You have also helped a lot in responding to disasters that affect this country,” Mutharika said.
The prayers were held under the theme ‘Walking with God in 2017’. Among others, they centred on protection for soldiers deployed in mission areas, national leadership and environmental protection and good rains.
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