Escom cuts power at BT govt building over K3m bill
Government business has come to a standstill at the New Government Building in Blantyre, as Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) yesterday cut-off power over unpaid bills amounting to over K3 million.
Nation Online has learnt that government’s failure to disburse monthly subventions for May and June forced its various departments, especially in the Southern Region to fail to pay Escom and other utility and service providers.
Escom public relations manager Kitty Chingota confirmed the disconnection Friday morning, but was coy on details while Blantyre District Commissioner, Charles Kalembo said they owe Escom over K3 million.
Kalembo said operations are down to zero and authorities are looking at ways of ensuring that the matter is resolved the soonest.
Said Kalembo: “The problem emanates from the fact that we did not receive funding for May and June. That affected us a lot because we had no money to pay Escom. If you are not given funding, how do you pay bills?
“This has affected us so much because all departments require power to operate and that means no business.”
According to Kalembo, the only solution to such a problem is “government proving funding every month”.
Although the office has a backup generator, Kalembo said it would be expensive to buy diesel for the generator.
“We are looking at how we can source money and pay Escom, but using a generator cannot help us because it will require so much money and that would not be economical,” he said.
A civil servant who opted for anonymity described the situation as frustrating and a mockery to the much-tauted Public Service Reforms programme.
He said this is not the first time the building has had its power disconnected over unpaid bills.
“The [Public Service] reforms were introduced as a realisation that an efficient and effective public sector is key to sustainable development as it would provide a strong and enabling capacity and foundation to achieve national development goals.
“But when you have no electricity, how do you expect to achieve efficiency? And if no funding is provided, then how do you expect people to work? Many people accuse us of being lazy, but how do you work when you have no resources?” wondered the seemingly frustrated civil servant.
