Rural areas to get electricity under new project—Msaka

Minister of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining Bright Msaka has said government is implementing Ndawala Electrification Project to supply electricity to rural households at subsidised price.

Speaking last week, the minister said rural areas in Ntcheu will be the first to benefit from the project to fast-track development in the country.

“Government has earmarked a lot of rural areas which are supposed to benefit from Ndawala Electrification Project and here in Ntcheu, these areas include Chakudza, Wile, Mdzawila, Kankhuni, Kabango and Gochi,” said Msaka at Chakudza Primary School in Traditional Authority (T/A) Mpando in Ntcheu.

He said most of the rural areas in the country are failing to develop due to lack of electricity.

Statistics from Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) show that Malawi’s electricity penetration rate is at a paltry 10 percent against a population of about 17 million people. In rural areas, the penetration is at less than one percent.

Through the Ndalawa Project, Escom will use its own resources to connect interested households and businesses in rural areas and townships.

The project is expected to boost electricity penetration as well as business activities.

At the launch of the project earlier this year, Escom board chairperson Jean Mathanga said the parastatal will capitalise on the demand to ensure consistent supply of electricity to rural areas.

Thus far, Escom has connected more than 100 households and some schools.—Mana