Escom fire is arson—PPM

Opposition People’s Progressive Movement (PPM) has claimed that the Friday midnight fire that seriously razed down Escom House in Blantyre is an arson case.

The PPM interim president Mark Katsonga in an interview yesterday said his party is holding government responsible for the fire.

Katsonga said his party is suspicious that government could be responsible for the arson attack on three grounds: that it has come at a time when there is Capital Hill cash scandal, forensic investigation underway and Escom being among the parastatals to be investigated.

But Minister of Energy Ibrahim Matola, in an interview yesterday, said government made a statement at a news conference on Saturday, and that was enough.

Matola, while saying that what Katsonga said was his personal opinion, urged Malawians to remain patient as an investigation into the Escom fire was underway.

But the PPM president demanded a clear explanation from government, arguing some officials might have resorted to arson to destroy evidence.

Katsonga said: “It could be an accident yes, but why  did the fire have to start from accounts department? The coincidence, with issues at hand, is just too much.”

But the ruling People’s Party (PP), in a statement issued yesterday, said sentiments from PPM president in respect to the Escom fire were “very unfortunate, irresponsible and uncalled for.”

Reads the PP’s statement signed by its deputy publicity secretary Ken Msonda: “We are not surprised; politicians who are failures shall always rush to conclusions on sensitive matters before investigations are through, only to regret when the truth is finally out.”

PP said it was, therefore, irresponsible for someone hoping to become Head of State to make such careless statements on matters of national concern.

PP demanded a retraction and an apology from Katsonga, but the PPM president said he could not retract his statement or apologise, arguing millions of taxpayers’ money have been lost.

Escom chief executive officer  John Kandulu told the media on Saturday that the organisation was yet to access the first and second floors of the building.