Blackout disrupts Malawi Parliament again: MPs say ‘just give us candles’
Business in the National Assembly was disrupted on Tuesday as the House was thrown into darkness by a power outage with leading to jeers from the opposition as some members of Parliament (MPs) flipped open their mobile phones to use as flashlights.
Others were pouring insults at the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) which is implementing extended power rationing and they were heard murmuring “just give us candles.”
The blackout, which held up proceedings for few minutes, was symbolic of the energy crisis Malawi has been wrestling with for years.
“We apologise for the power failure. We are told the problem is at Escom and they will try to rectify it,” First Deputy Speaker Esther Mcheka Chilenje said.
She promised the MPs that Parliament will get to the bottom of the matter and ensure that power outsages never happen again.
It is reportedly that some fuses im microphones in the House are burnt due to power cuts.
Parliament Secretariat asked Escom for preferential supply of power during its business hours.
Escom is implementing massive load shedding to consumers following reduced generation capacity resulting from low water levels in Lake Malawi and the Shire River, home to 90 percent of Escom’s hydro-electric power stations.
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Blackout in Parliament? In the middle of deliberations? Bravo ESCOM! I like this! Now our lawmakers know what it is like to have power outage when one is working. The only difference is that the august house is not a profit-making entity, so they can relax because there is no loss of profit. But if the honorable MPs reacted the way it is reported here, then what do they expect to be the reaction from the business community when production stops? Madam Deputy Speaker, I move that you do something about this, not now but yesterday.
Escom iri mu gulu la makhwala ozunguza bongo m’malawi muno!
This is another classical Cash gate. How stealing money for campaign. How u buy units top up. Believing u get magnesi. They come but short time. Next time u look at meter u see its very low u need to top up again. Dont u Wonder Why its like that? They taking money from mangesi. Please use your pyschological mind. This DDP do the same when they raise tariff of waterboard. If they were serious Why put pressure on ESCOM.and fire useless bosses and technicians. They can not do because its a game. They know How much it affects the… Read more »
I like this hahahahahahaha
Boma iloooooo…,….mpaka 2024 woo
When Parliament faces power failure, the Speaker should order that deliberations take place on a non-working day like Saturday. This is so because Parliamentarians do not return the allowances they pocket and they should realise that they are working. If they don’t do this they are stealing our money. The excuse that it was not their fault should not be entertained. Parliament should always have plans B and C. so that the meeting doesn’t get disrupted in totality.
Very embarrassing for our party DPP. But what can we do now? We have stolen enough from these parastatals. Yes we have fat bank accounts; yes we have nice bungalows and one storey houses and flats built within the year; yes we have all the power we sought in the past. We are welding too much power that we are now deaf and arrogant. We are now using our tribal lomwe tool to the fullest. But it’s all vanity under the sun. Real vanity. Dark nights have become our companion together with the very Malawians, including the Lomwes we thought… Read more »
The problem is our president he knows the problem but doing nothing, this is a failer how to run the government this is embarrassing
Why always everything the president?? Who didnot say the president doesnt know? Give us a break please! Mwasowa zolankula eti?
So you are so special that you had to ask ESCOM for special treatment. Ana a njoka inu. DPP govt bring the electoral reforms bill NOW!
Shame and embarrassment. Mukuyenera kuganiza bwino makosana ndi bwino musamalandire ma allowance.chaka chonse ndalama zipite magetsi.