National blackout could plunge Malawi into chaos : Escom and Water Boards strike
Malawi could run without power nationwide as employees of the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) have threatend to plunge the country into darkness if government will not recisin decision to freeze a 25 percent salary increment.
According to published reports, the Escom union said the employees were looking for something higher—45 percent increment—but after negotiations, the Escom board, comprising officials from Ministry of Finance, Controller of Statutory Corporations, Zangazanga Chikhosi, sat and approved a 20 percent to cater for cost of living and five percent as annual increment, making it a 25 percent salary increment.
But officials in Escom management have threatened the union leaders that plunging the country into blackout will criminal act , and that arrests onntreason charges may be carried.
Escom management are also investigating the leaders of the strike action to purge them.
According to Nation on Sunday, Escom’s public relations manager Kitty Chimseu said the utility provider would come up with a statement.
The paper also reported that employees in all the five water boards in the country have also threatened to lock the taps dry should government fail to reverse its decision.
Water Employees Trade Union of Malawi (Wetum), engaged their managements to force government to rescind its decision on salary increment freeze.
Wetum general secretary Tony Chiphwanya said the union believed the matter would be resolved amicably, disclosing that there is a planned meeting with managements of the water boards this Wednesday.
Malawi is facing economic problems and hunger crisis.
am not there but am interested with malawians
. Sorry my poor malawians
The increments are only at 25%. The Parastatals were given their targets which they have fulfilled. These companies generate own revenue and there is nothing for them in the National Budget. I wonder why their employees should be denied increments when their budgets can sustain? This is sad. There is thus no logic apart from jealousy by those in government who apparently strive on cash gate and think that others should not get the increments as well hen they won’t. This is ridiculous for a government that campaigned on better salaries for its people and not ma chenje. I just… Read more »
Apatseni ndalama zomwe akufuna. Parliament recently awarded its members 3 million each . So what’s wrong with Escom employees give the money what they want
Awapatse basi makobiri.anthuwatu amagwira ntchito si ganyu siakuti zinthu zikuyenda bwino nanga chavutanso ndi chani poti Ndalama amapanga okha.
O……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….O These Escom people are being unrealistic and unfair . . . . . . Salary increment is meant to be an inflation-shock absorber. Is Malawi’s inflation at least 45% now? . . . And who gets a 45% salary increment, regardless of infllation rate? . . . Inuyo ndi alonda, who receive too little to live on? hence justified to receive even a 100% increment? …………………………………………………………….. But, wait a minute . . . . . . Was it not a week ago, when the Constitutency Development Fund (CDF) was increased by a whopping 39%; yet we all know that… Read more »
hear hear hear!
ESCOM is supposed to be a business. why are they not making enough to use their own profits? We do not use free electricity neither do we drink free water.
This has nothing to do with the expenditures you are comparing them with.
If every time something goes wrong in these quasi organisations we blame Government, why do they have boards of directors?
And yes who ever said plunging a country in darkness is treason was right. It is so everywhere and in some places it is summary punishment.