As Malawi braces for longer blackouts weather expert says Mwera winds has no effect on power reduction

A weather expert has laughed off assertions by power generators  Electricity Supply Commission of Malawi (Escom) that the cyclone winds, popularly known as Mwera, are to blame for the current prolonged power cuts.

Yobu Kachiwanda of the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services

Escom public relations manager Innocent Chitosi said Mwera winds have reduced water levels on Lake Malawi and Shire River where over 90 percent of the country’s electricity is generated.

He said Malawians should expect longer loadshedding hours following a reduction in power generation from the current 200 megawatts (MW) to 180 MW.

But Yobu Kachiwanda, spokesperson at the Meteorological and Climate Change Department said Mwera winds cannot affect the production of electricity, saying usually they push water on one side temporarily.

“On long term, the Mwera winds can cause evaporation but this does not happen in Malawi. It is always good and advisable that officials should consult us before making statements of this nature,” said Kachiwanda.

He said scientifically, it is very remote for the cyclone winds to reduce the water levels in Lake Malawi or Shire river as claimed by Escom publicist in his recent interviews with the media.

Malawi has once again been hit by prolonged black outs as Egenco has gone back to load-shedding .

Chitosi said the mwera winds have reduced water used for the generation of power in Shire river from 200 megawatts to 180 megawatts.

This comes at a time when Zambia is providing Malawi with 20 megawatts of electricity a deal which started last week.

The five-year cross-border power supply means that Escom will have at least 220 MW of power from the current 200 MW against a peak demand of around 350 MW subdued by reduced water levels.

“As weather experts, we did a research on this and discovered that the mwera winds does not reduce water levels in the lake, this is not correct, there might be some reasons but as far as I know, the water levels have not reduced in the lake,” said Kachiwanda.

This comes at a time government is struggling to woo serious investors into the country but most of them are refusing to put their money in the country due to erratic supply of electricity.

The country has been experiencing power outages since 2017 when electricity users were being subjected to 23 hours of load shedding per day.

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Chilungamo
Chilungamo
5 years ago

We have become a nation of liars, conmen, gangsters. Lying without shame. From minister lying in broad day light that stacks of money found in bedroom was blue-night party to another forging an official document (fake forex license) to claiming K145 million being donation, to MEC chair manipulating voter registration in Mozambique…..
Then new theories about Mwera causing blackouts…..eish!!!
Dziko lotembeleredwa ili

Samuel
Samuel
5 years ago

KkkkAnthu akuchilomoni I’ve mwatigonetsa mumdima nthawi yaitali. Mwamva inu akuchilomoni musachitenso zimenezi. Eeee mukuuona mdima uwu. Sheeeekkkkk

Maseko
Maseko
5 years ago

Escom should stop fooling Malawians. We are not stupid. For once just keep quite

concerned citizen
concerned citizen
5 years ago

Nkula power station A yangofikira kuzima chifukwa choti madzi achepa?

Loncy
Loncy
5 years ago

Mr. Kachiwanda is not the Director of the Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services but he is the spokesperson for the department. Thank you.

Guest
Guest
5 years ago

Same dance, different tune

Kalulu Wadwala
Kalulu Wadwala
5 years ago

Let’s be sincere. Malawi is a country full of fornicators, alduterers, witches, Satanism. Mwera wind has always been there since time immemorial. So mwera is also affecting the generators? This country needs spiritual healing. When we want to lie, we do it without shame. when we want to defend stupidity , we do it blindly. When we want to defend political parties , we do it with stupidity. That is why Ethiopian airlines has just acquired their 100 th New plain whilst we are busy having sex in offices. And we say we are a Christian nation. We are cursed… Read more »

Mjonanje
Mjonanje
5 years ago

This weather expert is fake. I come from the lake region, when Mwera winds blow for a long time, water levels indeed lowers. we easily see small islands emerging. Iweyo ngati umapita ku Nyanja, ask yourself why the band width ya from the hotel buildings is very long covered with plenty sand to where the waters starts. Kagwere weather expert woofoiira!

Mulupale
Mulupale
5 years ago
Reply to  Mjonanje

Why should we believe you and not the expert? He is explaining himself with scientific backing whilst you rely on stories told to you by your gogos.

Kunena Mosapsyatila.
Kunena Mosapsyatila.
5 years ago
Reply to  Mulupale

@Mjonanje I hope you are not criticizing out of myths, but via a thorough and authentic study. Buy the way I don’t believe your story because Mwera conditions have existed since time immemorial but we could enjoy electricity for days in the times of Angwazi and even Muluzi. Stop this lie ESCOM and bring about tangible and reasonable factors.

GonapaDindi
5 years ago
Reply to  Mulupale

Hahaha! True! Tell him

Phiri
Phiri
5 years ago

What type of weather expert doesn’t know weather affects the generation of energy. Winds have a great effect on a lot of other weather dynamics. Is he REALLY a weather expert?

Mphwache
Mphwache
5 years ago
Reply to  Phiri

How many times have we had Mwera winds in the past, and how many times was the Lake Malawi flow disrupted.

Headteacher
5 years ago
Reply to  Phiri

Why don’t you tell us what you know, so that your facts fight his facts?

nkhatabay
5 years ago

Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii mwati chiyani?

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