Chilima vindicated again on fraud claims: Escom confirms more fuel missing
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.
Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :
Kodi a president and vice president ukutani mudziko link is Malawi? These two pipo hv my helped us for the past four years……
Anzake aChilima muboma ndaamene akumpatsa information…there nothing special kungoti iyeyo Ali muboma momo…… Khoswe wapazala adaulura was sindwi…….
PRESIDENT PITALA ALIBE
POLOBOLEMU !!! ALI ZIII !!
ESCOM has already recovered the money lost by increasing tariffs. It will increase the tariffs again soon. No big deal here.
Chilima is our shinning armour indeed.Dpp has lied to malawians
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.
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.
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?
@ 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
Comment from a thief
CHILIMA NDI DILU.CHIPANI CHA KUBA CHA DPP CHAYENERA CHIONERE MPIRA KUCHOKERA KUMA STANDS COME 2019!
Who’s trucks are transporting the fuel? who are the shareholders of that transportation company? Is Rashy not there?
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.
Nzomvetsadi chisoni izi ummmmh
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… Read more »