Chilima vindicated again on fraud claims: Escom confirms more fuel missing

September 17, 2018 Osman Faiti -Nyasa Times 44 Comments

Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) has confirmed revelations by Vice-President Saulos Klaus Chilima (SKC), that after losing 3.8 million litres of diesel worth K1.9 billion, the state-owned power utility has lost more diesels for the 78 megawatts generators  up to 4.2 million litres.

Chilima first disclosed during the launch of United Transformation Movement (UTM) Southern Region rally at Njamba Freedom Park in Blantyre that at least three million litres of fuel were recently stolen at the parastatal.

Escom confirmed, saying  it was  a syndicate involving transporters, security guards and its staff.

And  last weekend at another UTM rally broadcasts live on Times TV, Mibawa TV and Zodiak TV,  Chilima revealed that more fuel  meant for running power generators being managed by Aggreko International Projects—an independent power producer (IPP)—to help mitigate the power generation crisis in the country in the wake of challenges faced by Electricity Generation Company (Egenco) – was missing at Escom.

The Vice-President cited the diesel racket in his emphasis of entrenched corruption and fraud in government ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) under the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) administration.

Escom public relations manager Innocent Chitosi said  it is indeed true about the fuel being stolen.

Chitosi said the fuel is supplied by the National Oil Company [Nocma] to Aggreko and the Escom stores

According to Chitosi, a truck is under police investigations after it recorded that 40 000 litres was received from Nocma and delivered in the Aggreko machines.

“But when they dipped into their machine, they found there was only 20 000 litres in the truck,” Chitosi said.

Escom is currently investigating the matter to prove collusion and gross theft of the fuel.

Chilima is also on record to have challenged responsible authorities to investigate officials from the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) and State Residences over their alleged roles in the award of a contract in the procurement of Escom generators to the fourth bidder instead of the successful bidder.

The Vice-President said a brave female Escom chief executive officer (Evelyn Mwapasa) was transferred to a ‘small” institution for allegedly refusing to take instructions from the officials.

Escom board chairperson Thom Mpinganjira, appointed to the Escom board earlier this year, said in June that  his board had ordered a forensic investigation into what it called blatant disregard of procurement rules and regulations.

 

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44 replies on “Chilima vindicated again on fraud claims: Escom confirms more fuel missing”

  1. Kodi a president and vice president ukutani mudziko link is Malawi? These two pipo hv my helped us for the past four years……

  2. Anzake aChilima muboma ndaamene akumpatsa information…there nothing special kungoti iyeyo Ali muboma momo…… Khoswe wapazala adaulura was sindwi…….

  4. ESCOM has already recovered the money lost by increasing tariffs. It will increase the tariffs again soon. No big deal here.

  6. This allegation is meaningless if we are not told how much litres were supposed to be used during the time we have incurred the 4.2 million litres loss.
    At full load a 78 megawatt machine will require in excess of 20,000 litres per hour. If you calculate how many hours these machines have been running since commissioned you find that the 4.2 million litres lost are just a tiny fraction of fuel used and can therefore be with acceptable limits.

    1. Then these are generators. The sentiments that pple raised were genuine, bt govt did not take hide. The money we are loosing was better to be invested in a sustainable energy source like solar or other hydro power in hydro potential areas. Now escom is trapping itself. KAYAKAYA. ziko likupita kuphedi. More ngongole more tariff hike kuti zipulumuse escom.

    2. You must be a witch, a wizard or anything closer to that! How can you insinuate that a loss of 4.2 million litres of fuel apparently costing more than 3 billion kwacha is acceptable loss for small economy like Malawi?

    3. @ Che wanimiliyoni
      Why are you trying albeit pathetically failing to justify or defend crime. Very unfortunate and you should be ashamed of yourself. ESCOM has confirmed that indeed fuel was stolen so what the hell are you bubbling and doodling about here. Shame upon you DPP follower

  8. Who’s trucks are transporting the fuel? who are the shareholders of that transportation company? Is Rashy not there?

  9. Malawi NDE zikukhalangati ndi dziko LA DPP. Koma ndichifukwa chiyani amalawi timangoonelera osachitapo kanthu. Zuma ataba ndalama zomwe adamangira nyumba yake South African citizens adamuchotsa pa mpando. Amalawi mantha ndichifukwa chake azitsogoleriwa azitiberadi ndipo I don’t see anyone right to govern this country. Onsewo zolinga zawo ndizofanana. Koma ndichifukwa choti ngakhale amabungwe anthu akati tiwapange sapoti pa ziwonetsero anthu ambiri amakana. Mwina vuto ndi mabungwe omwenso kulandila ziphuphu kuchokera Ku boma. Koma nanga ngati katangaleyu wafika posawuzana choncho kodi anthu amene akubwera mtsogolomu dzikoli adzalipeza? Zomvetsa chisoni.

  10. Sometimes lets be serious. How can you say he has been vindicated. Escom started these investigations before SKC said them at a rally. Someone just tipped him off and he said it at the rally. The investigations did not start because of him. Now the investigation has discovered its more than what they initially thought, and someone has told SKC the figure. Its not like SKC has discovered how much is missing and told Escom to investigate. Its people investigating telling him the figures.
    And about Agrekko getting the deal, SKC didn’t say anything new. This was mentioned in parliament long ago that the tender was given to an unsuccessful bidder. For people who follow the news, even the US ambassador asked the Malawi Government to explain what happened during the tender. Some of you are just starting to follow the news now but that whole procurement has been put into question. Why didn’t SKC when he was in good books alert ACB on this. Just google US Ambassador backs US firm, and you will find a link of how this process was fraudulent and was raised last year but our boy SKC was enjoying being VP he didn’t care. Pano akuwulula zakale and not whats happening now.
    Remember now that Mulli started the SKC movement according to Kaliati so some of the money Mulli is siphoning now will find its way to the movement too.

  11. If Escom is tasing this long to investigate such a major case of theft which compromises sovereign security then we are in biiiig trouble. This is the level of incompetence that we have at Escom; they don’t have the right people in place to investigate a very simple case of theft. I also doubt the competence of the chairman of the board. No wonder he purchased an asset (MSB) with no value. I would question his judgement and integrity knowing that he is a qualified accountant.

  12. If he has not resigned as veep my advice is to also aggressively address these issues in cabinet not just at PR podiums!

    1. He is not invited to cabinet meetings, its not just PR, it is what it is , all he can do right now is call them out

  13. Chilima is Vice President with access to state and other forms of intelligence. Making such revelations does not make him superhuman or clever. He has known about DPP’s theft for the past 4 years. And he wanted to represent that thieving party next year (don’t tell me he wanted to change things in DPP because he did nothing to prove that in the past 4 years). He would not have been making such revelations were he endorsed as DPP torch bearer for 2019. While such revelations are helpful to the country, the revelations are more helpful to him (to appear clever to the gullible) and are being made out of greed for power and not love for country.

  14. Investigate Buy malawi contracts given at Central medical stores, mbava and looting overcharging, contracts given without competing

  16. What do you mea when you are saying Chilima vindicated???? is he not part of government ? what is he doing about it? cant he learn from Kajoloweka ? please tell Chilima to start acting not making noise we value someone actions not words or promises. Let him use his position otherwise he should resign

  17. ma cadet inu opusa ukuona ngati one million litre galimoto yake it ingapange leak up to one million litres komaso do you know how trucks are that one million ukuichepesayo ngati ungakale nawo kunyumba kwakwo ,ukuiwala kuti ena alemelapo apa pamene tavutika ndi blackout

    1. Kodi akati Malawi ndi Dziko lo sauka does it mean that everyone in Malawi ndi osauka? Chilima beong part of the government does not mean that he is corrupt. Was his name mentioned in the ACB report about police rations?

  18. Dpp steals from escom and everyone is just following suit! first you brought us shady contract bought genset as a sustainable solution to power woes then you stealing and watching everyone steal! What kind of government! Energy is like water basic right to everyone!! No shame #Vote these fools out 2019! We need new leaders new things 2019

  25. What is wrong with Chilima? It was just a few litres lost during transportation. This is normal in any organisation. APM please abolish ACB before its too late. There were some leakages on the trucks. All leaking trucks are now being sealed properly.

    4. Inu ndiye mukuuza mwana wa 2 yrs!
      Have u ever been to the NOCMA offices urself? Safety is the priority there so leakage imachitikira kuti mpaka 20,000 liters to be lost??

    5. 50% leakage Kandulu and you call that normal. The fact that your brain is operating at 50% isn’t normal Kandulu. You better have your brain checked by specialists.

    7. Stop impersonating people you fool. You know you are not Kandulu. Why would you use that name, you dunderhead? Who doesn’t know that you are UTM? Ana a njoka!

    8. What is wrong with ACB when Malawians holding positions in public bodies do not care about principles and ethics despite civic education directed to them by the very same ACB?

      Public officers are supposed to act in the interest of the public and not for financial gain or other benefits for themselves, family or friends. But public officers often place themselves under any financial or other obligation to outside individuals or organisations that seek to influence them in their performance of their duties. Ethics has been thrown to the dogs.

      ACB should not be abolished. Instead relocate the officers to work in least corrupt countries where their functions and duties will be appreciated. Finland, Singapore, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, New Zealand, Botswana and Switzerland are some the countries. Thereafter recall the officers if political will to fight the vice has been put in place.

    10. Mr/Mrs. Kandulu, are you really serious all those litres could be lost through leakages or you one of them benefiting from the losses?

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