Citizens unhappy over electricity tarrifs hike: Unfair, says Malawi Economic Justice Network
A cross section of Malawians have expressed concern over Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (Mera)decision to allow Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) a 13.7 percent increase in electricity tarrifs to K53.69 (about $0.08) from the current K40.69 (about $0.06) per kilowatt-hour.
People who spoke to Nyasa Times correspondent on the streets of the Capital City, Lilongwe questioned the sincerity of Mera in the wake of economic turbulence.
“Mera is more concerned with Escom financial problems not financial problems of an ordinary person,” said a 39 year man identified as Chitekwe.
“The government increased secondary school fees then it is now increasing electricity tarrifs. We indeed need to tighten our belts. The economic problems are for ordinary Malawians after all,” chipped in a 25 year old man Bruno Mahata.
“We are paying for inefficiencies of Escom,” said a 55 year old lady Chikumbutso Mbango.
Escom raised electricity tarrifs twice within a month, first from K35 per kilowatt and two days ago from K40 to K53 per kilowatt.
Malawi Economic Justice Network (MEJN) executive director Dalitso Kubalasa said the explanations by Mera for the electricity tarrifs hike do not hold water and both Mera and Escom need to justify the hike at a time when the economy is facing huge problems.
Kubalasa said it was “unfair “to force tax payers fund inefficiencies at Escom.
According to a statement signed by Mera board chairperson Dingiswayo Jere, Mera approved the tariff hike after considering the impact of inflation rate and exchange rate movement that resulted in a 6.6 percent increase.
Reads the statement in part: “The tariff which was beyond the statutory plus or minus five percent threshold for revising tariffs and therefore the electricity tariff qualified for an upward adjustment.”
The statement said during its meeting on December 2, the Mera board noted a further depreciation of the local unit to K612.38 against the United States dollar and”
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Escom tariffs are raised again. Why? Count how many vehicles Escom has hired and what are they for? Escom management and its managers live a luxurious life and they are doing it at the expense of ordinary Malawians. How can we stop buying chalcoal like this?
Water board is worse. AT last Electricity one can control. But it is verk unfortunate thinking of hon economy is in Malawi and black outs which is affecting businesses. Where are People going to get money when there salaries are verk low? Businesses dont bringa money due to black outs. Ask The small businesswomen of salons. For Gods sake is there NO control system for government to look intog citizens suffering? What is The government for? Vet soon som organisation Will leave Malawi as The did during Bakili. Malawi is a filuren nation. Its Malawians fault. The say “AS U… Read more »
Mr President why siting phwi n waiting for bad days. Do u no that once the tarrif is up most Malawians will be using charcoal n firewood. Cant u subsdise Electricty for more people to use it inorder to save environment. You have to be ashamed of urself to stand on a Podium one day speaking on environment while u as the citizen No 1 U are the one pushing the local citizens to deforestrate heavily. Do something, subsdise electricty Sir.
asamati tikweza magetsi koma adziti tikweza mtenga wa ma blackout chifukwa masiku 20 without electricity or intermitted electricity 10 with magetsi ndiye mudziti mwakweza magetsi?Pamtumbo panu ndithu mulungudi!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Government must monitor Escom, MANAGEMENT AND MANAGERS @ESCOM ARE JUST WALLOPING IN LUXURIES AND SOME OF THESE ADJUSTMENTS ARE MEANT TO TO FUND SOME LUXURIES FOR MANAGEMENT AND MANAGERS. IMAGINE AN ORGANISATION FAILING TO BUY AND MANAGE BACK UP GENERATORS TO BOOST THEIR GENERATION CAPACITY CLAIMING THAT ITS EXPENSIVE YET THEY HAVE A CAR SCHEME FOR AND MANAGEMENT AND MANAGERS, THIS SCHEME GIVE THESE PEOPLE CARS POSHY ONES WITH MONTHLY FREE FUEL ALLOWANCES AND UN CONTROLLED MAINTENANCE AT A GARAGE. THESE CARS ARE NEVER USED FOR ESCOM WORK BUT PERSONAL USE, THE SCHEME IS OF NO BENEFIT TO ESCOM OPERATIONS… Read more »
Escom have increased 31% and not 13%
Agalu inu !!!!
Its what malawians want. Why voting for DPP MP again?
Uchimo wachuluka
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