Escom disconnects Malawi govt building for unpaid bills

Government business has come to a standstill at new government building in the commercial city of Blantyre after Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) cut off power supply due to unpaid bills.

Escom disconnected power supply to the building on Wednesday afternoon, forcing the State employees to abandon their respective offices in what can only be  regarded as ‘holiday’.

The building, situated at the heart of Blantyre town adjacent to Blantyre Sports Club is now a deserted dark-hall with no hope that the paralysed government operations will return to normal anytime soon.

Nyasa Times visit to the building discovered that the utility provider cut off the power supply Wednesday afternoon.

“How do they expect us to be working without electricity? Nobody wants to remain in office with what has just happened,” complained one of the civil servant who spoke to Nyasa Times .

The officer disclosed that most of the government departments owe the utility providers-Escom and Water Board- huge outstanding bills.

Escom Public Relations Manager, Kitty Chinseu-Chingota while confirming the power cut at new government building refused to disclose how much the company is owed in electricity bills.

“Our customer privacy policy does not allow us to divulge such information,” said Chingota.

During the Peoples Party era, the new government building, constructed by the Chinese Government, had no power for two days after Escom cut off supply due to same issue of unsettled bills.