Escom, Chikangawa case goes for mediation

Lawyers for the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) and a 14-year-old boy allegedly burnt by the power supplier’s high voltage wires have agreed to set aside a default judgement for a case in which the boy is claiming K120 million compensation.

The two sides have since signed a consent order to set aside a default judgement so that the matter goes for mediation.

A family in Mzimba dragged Escom to court demanding K120 million after Manase Moyo was heavily scalded by high voltage wires.

According to a statement of claim filed in court, one of Escom poles fell down in September 2014 at Mtangatanga in Mzimba.

People allegedly reported to Escom to fix the pole as power lines were on the ground, but the company never did.

Moyo later stepped on the wires when he went to graze cattle. The boy was heavily burnt such that medical officials were forced to make a skin transplant.

Since the case started in December last year, Escom never contested it, a development that forced lawyer for the child, George Kadzipatike, to make an application for default judgement.

However, Escom, through its lawyer Sally Mtambo, has started challenging the case, arguing it was not to blame for the accident.

According to defence documents submitted in court, people vandalised a stay wire which resulted into overhead cables to fall to the minimum height.