Ibrahim Matola warns against sabotage at Escom
Minister of Energy Ibrahim Matola has described as “economic sabotage” acts by some employees at the state-run Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) who, he claimed, are conniving with vandals and demanding kickbacks to rectify faults.
Matola said this in Blantyre on the sidelines of an event where Escom donated a K50 million cheque to Dodma.
He alleged that some employees were diverting resources and, in some cases, sending thieves to vandalise Escom transformers and lines in areas where power supply has not been restored.
“We are investigating; therefore, I cannot say what is happening at the moment but the malpractice is rampant in Mulanje, Thyolo and Phalombe districts,” Matola said.
Escom Chief Executive Officer Kamkwamba Kumwenda said the situation will affect the time the company will take to restore power supply in affected areas.
He said the extent of damage will be known by the end of this week after an assessment has been completed.
Power transmission challenges experienced in the aftermath of Cyclone Freddy have exacerbated power outages.
