Kapito claims Escom fire report manipulated
Consumer Association of Malawi (CAMA) Executive Director John Kapito has said the credibility of a report released recently on the outcome of the fire that gutted down Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) head offices in the commercial city of Blantyre on 18th October, 2013 is suspect and strongly believe it has been manipulated.
Published reports indicated that the investigations carried out by a South African Incendium Fire Investigations firm revealed that there were insufficient interpretable fire patterns to allow for determination of an area of fire origin during the interior inspection.
But Kapito faulted Escom for rushing into concluding that the matter is dead and buried based on the report findings by the South African firm.
“We do not believe and trust such a report. Looking at the comments from Escom, they have rushed to conclude on the findings of the report where they have indicated that with this report everything surrounding the Escom fire is dead and buried,” Kapito is quoted in the press.
“We strongly believe that the report is a manipulation by an insurance consultant who in our opinion did not understand the key issues that the people of Malawi believed to have been the cause of the fire,” he added.
ESCOM Public Relations Officer Kitty Chingota said during the week that the findings will put to rest all the rumour and assertions that the fire was set.
“This puts the matter to rest. There were many rumours going on around, some claim there was sabotage while others said other things, but the forensic report shows that the fire was an accident. I believe this answers people’s queries” said Chingota.
The fire destroyed all property on the ground floor and part of the first and second floors of Escom House.
Escom has always been a “hot-spot” for fraud involving politicians and as such many suspected foul play involved in the fire to conceal evidence about fraud.
However, the investigation report indicates that there were insufficient interpretable fire patterns to allow for determination of an area of fire origin during the interior inspection.
The general investigations of the fire started on October 28, 2013.
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