Nationwide blackout hits Malawi
Published: November 21, 2009
Nationwide blackout hits Malawi
Malawi was plunged into total darkness Friday night in a continuing economic turmoil.
Authorities could not explain the reason for the nationwide blackout as President Bingu w Mutharika’s government faces continuing accusations of economic and infrastructure neglect of the country of 13 million inhabitats and growing urban centres.
Malawi has been experiencing frequent abrupt power outages which in some cases have forced surgeons at hospitals to turn patients away from their scheduled surgical operations until the country’s sole electricity utility company, Electricity Supply Commission of Malawi (ESCOM) stabilises supply of power.
The situation is exacerbated by an excruciating shortage of foreign exchange capital to buy fuel energy imported through neighbouring Mozambique. The economic decay in crucial sectors is starting to be apprent, particualrly in the major cities of Blnatyre, lilongwe, Zomba and Mzuzu.
For the first time ever, for example, this week saw the first ever stoppage of broadcasting on state radios MBC Channels I and II; and on the state owned Television Malawi (TVM).
There is also scarcity of fizzy drinks in Malawi’s supermarket outlets. As well, water taps have run dry forcing people to walk long distances to fetch for water.
President Mutharika run on a campaign of sound economic management, but things look more difficult to implement than to campaign about.
“The president has failed us,” said one urbanite in the city of Zomba. “I voted for him so that he can make this country progress economically. But how can we progress if the factories do not have electricity and water to manufacture their products,” lamented the mother of three.
Such whispers of discontent are starting to be heard widely despite Malawi being a regime run mainly by fear of the government.
Malawi was plunged into total darkness Friday night in a continuing economic turmoil.
Authorities could not explain the reason for the nationwide blackout as President Bingu w Mutharika’s government faces continuing accusations of economic and infrastructure neglect of the country of 13 million inhabitats and growing urban centres.
Malawi has been experiencing frequent abrupt power outages which in some cases have forced surgeons at hospitals to turn patients away from their scheduled surgical operations until the country’s sole electricity utility company, Electricity Supply Commission of Malawi (ESCOM) stabilises supply of power.
The situation is exacerbated by an excruciating shortage of foreign exchange capital to buy fuel energy imported through neighbouring Mozambique.
The economic decay in crucial sectors is starting to be apprent, particularly in the major cities of Blnatyre, lilongwe, Zomba and Mzuzu.
For the first time ever, for example, this week saw the first ever stoppage of broadcasting on state radios MBC Channels I and II; and on the state owned Television Malawi (TVM).
There is also scarcity of fizzy drinks in Malawi’s supermarket outlets. As well, water taps have run dry forcing people to walk long distances to fetch for water.
President Mutharika (pitured) run on a campaign of sound economic management, but things look more difficult to implement than to campaign about.
“The president has failed us,” said one urbanite in the city of Zomba.
“I voted for him so that he can make this country progress economically. But how can we progress if the factories do not have electricity and water to manufacture their products,” lamented the mother of three.
Such whispers of discontent are starting to be heard widely despite Malawi being a regime run mainly by fear of the government.
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Some of us have vehemently voiced against appointments based on nepotism whether from mulhako or other wise. Nepotism breeds complecency and corruption of the highest order.
Had it been we were in a working democracy,ESCOM management would have been scrutinised by the president, cabinet and MPs and brought to order. The systematic failures of ESCOM for too long now defies any explaination.
Had it been it was in the western world, the whole Escom management would have been forced to resign or get a boot!
PHARAOH WA LERO
anathamangitsa ma tobacco buyers because they did not offer sugar coated prices for his tobacco.now we have no forex,we are suffering because of his selfishness.we have to sleep at gas stations to get some diesel.i really wish you died in your sleep,mose wa lero.it would be very good riddance.aka ka ngwazi kandikwana!
Nyani ameneyu zinthu zamukanika basi vuto amamvera mbuli zina zomwe akuchezanazo… The president has shown that with good people around he perfomes and viceversa so Bingu term ino wasankha kuti azicheza ndi zitsiru and this countyr is now facing all sort of problems Economic Engineer watha basi. Escom ndi waterboard ndiye zikupwetekesa anthu mpka ayamba kuzithandizira kunja ulemu watha uwona mzimayi ntchafu pamtunda ati kuzithandiza koma inu tilakwapo izi.
Kusaukatu komeneko chemaweya. No wonder the bitterness
thumbs up Chemaweya… i cant wait for this dog to have his day in court for all the thefts he is participating in using his front of mulli brothers,snatching land from helpless villagers. a bingu,7 years ago ur only “assets” were two ramshackle minibuses,lero mukugula ma plot at 200 million cash!Mudzatipeza…
Whenever something, which has been functioning very well for some time, fails, it simply means that someone somewhere is not doing his job. Solution; replace him. If the authority is unable to replace him, just know that they are all failures. In this case, nothing can be done. We wait for time to do it for us, period. Remember:Time shall tell.
Life is so tough in malawi to get the basic needs, why zinthu zofunikira kumasowa pamodzi. ndiye muwone katangale wake m’mene anthu akuchitira kuti apeze zinthu zosowazi, u talk of forex,fuel & other things its getting worse.Escom blackouts is the order of day panopa ndiye tazolowera with or without loadshedding program magetsi amazima. basi
escom here today there tommorrow
whats that we see in malawi bola muluzi
Bingu koma watiyenjeza mwamva? unya 2014 ndi mbale wakoyo akuvotelani ambwiyanu.
Mulhako government oyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee