New broom at embattled Escom, exit Mwapasa enter Dr. Chiwaya

Amid power blackout woes in Malawi, chief executive officer for the embattled power utility company, Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) Evelyn Mwapasa, has been fired.

According to an internal memo signed by Escom’s director of human resources and administration, D. Z. Namandwa, the new man at the helm is Dr. Alexion Chiwaya.

Dr. Chiwaya is an accomplished former Escom CEO and engineer who comes with a pool of experience in the country’s energy sector.

Apart from previously working with Escom as CEO, Dr. Chiwaya also worked as CEO for Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) during the People’s Party (PP) government of former president Joyce Banda.

According to the internal memo dated 9th November, Mwapasa has been redeployed within the public service.

“Let us welcome Dr. Chiwaya and also wish the outgoing Chief Executive Officer all the best,” reads the internal memo addressed to all heads of department and all members of staff of the embattled Escom and copied to the company’s executive management.

The country’s power generation woes hasworsened with a loss of 20 megawatts (MW), leading some areas to go without power for over 24 hours.

The Electricity Generation Company (Egenco), which sells its power to Escom for supply to consumers, described the downward spiral of power generation from 180 megawatts (MW) to 160MW as “alarming”.

From the 160MW being generated, between 60MW and 70MW is reserved for critical centres of national interest, including hospitals and water boards, with the remaining 100MW or less expected to be shared by domestic and industrial consumers, according to Egenco chief executive officer William Liabunya.

Analysts have, however, cautioned on the energy crisis being experienced in the country, saying it is neither sustainable nor compatible with the level of growth which would make Malawi develop.