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.