Malawi’s fragile economic recovery — recently hailed by the World Bank — is now at serious risk of being wiped out entirely by the country’s crippling fuel shortage, a leading economic commentator has dramatically warned. Dr Ben Dzolowere launched a blistering attack on the government’s handling of the crisis, demanding Minister of Energy Jean Namathanga […]
Malawi’s energy sector is grappling with an awkward contradiction. While motorists queue at petrol stations, the state-owned National Oil Company of Malawi (Nocma) is pressing ahead with plans to double its strategic fuel storage capacity, from 60 million to 120 million litres. Existing reserves at Matindi in Blantyre, Kanengo in Lilongwe and Sonda in Mzuzu […]
Malawi’s Minister of Energy has said she expects power blackouts to ease by December, as critical machine spares are due to arrive in the country this week and imported electricity from Mozambique is expected to begin flowing. Speaking in an interview monitored by Nyasa Times on Nation Online’s No Excuses programme on Friday, Jean Mathanga […]
Malawi is entering yet another dark chapter in its electricity crisis. The much-touted Mozambique-Malawi Interconnection Project, meant to inject urgently needed power into the national grid, has missed its third commissioning deadline. The latest promise — that the connection would be operational by the end of July — has passed without a single megawatt flowing […]
Malawi has commissioned the US$12 million Salima Nanjoka Solar Power Plant, a 10‑megawatt facility that government officials say will help ease pressure on the national grid and support long‑term energy diversification. The plant, located in Salima, forms the first phase of a 50‑megawatt project, with additional capacity expected to be developed in the coming years. […]
Minister of Energy Dr Jean Mathanga has said government is intensifying efforts to expand electricity access in rural areas through the Accelerating Sustainable and Clean Energy Access Transformation (ASCENT) project and the Malawi Rural Electrification Programme (MAREP), as the country transitions from MAREP Phase 9 to Phase 10. She said the two programmes remain key […]
Government and the national power utility have both moved this week to address Malawi’s persistent electricity outages, with ministers pointing to new generation projects while ESCOM appeals to consumers to cut demand during peak hours. Minister of Energy Dr Jean Mathanga told Parliament on Tuesday that government fully appreciates the inconvenience and economic losses caused […]
Minister of Energy Dr Jean Mathanga says government plans to expand electricity access are moving ahead through rural electrification programmes and new investments in power generation. Speaking on the sidelines of parliamentary proceedings, she said the Malawi Rural Electrification Programme (MAREP) remains the main vehicle for connecting underserved communities, with constituencies required to submit proposals […]
Probably whoever said ‘imfa siithawika’ (death is inescapable) did not lie! Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Commissioners at the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Commissioners, Linda Kunje and Dr. Jean Mathanga, might have successfully challenged rescission of their appointment at the High Court, but they have fallen short of maintaining their seats they heard dear to. On […]
Malawi Electoral Commission has urged political parties to strictly observe covid-19 preventive protocols during the campaign period ahead of the June 29 by-elections. MEC Commissioner Jean Mathanga made the call at Mdeka Teachers Development Centre(TDC) in Blantyre during the launch of the June 2021 by-elections. Mathanga said it is the role of political parties and […]
“…Pay their honorarium” The High Court in Blantyre on Friday ordered President Lazarus Chakwera to immediately reinstate two embattled Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Commissioners Jean Mathanga and Linda Kunje. The court has further ordered government to pay honorarium to the two mentioned MEC commissioners starting from the month they stopped receiving these benefits. Apart from […]
Two Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) commissioners are defiantly working at the pollster despite moves by the Lazarus Chakwera administration to remove themselves. Commissioners Jean Mathanga and Linda Kunje are under pressure from the government to resign in their positions at MEC. However, they all seem to be undaunted. This morning, Kunje […]
Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Kondwani Nankhumwa has urged President Lazarus Chakwera to reject a recommendation by the parliamentary Public Affairs Committee (PAC) to fire two DPP Malawi Electoral Commission commissioners, Jean Mathanga and Linda Kunje on the grounds that it was unjust. “I am utterly dismayed and disappointed by the recommendation,” said Nankhumwa […]
Parliament’s Public Appointments Committee (PAC) has recommended to president Lazarus Chakwera to fire two Malawi Electoral Commissioners who represent the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). The committee made the recommendations after noting that both the Constitutional Court ruling had the Supreme Court ruling on the election case found the Jane Ansah commission incompetent. A member […]
Attorney General Dr. Chikosa Silungwe gave a legal opinion to Office of President and Cabinet to formally write appointment letters for two Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) Commissioners Linda Kunje and Jean Mathanga. Kunje and Mathanga were part of the MEC Commissioners who administered the May 21 2019 Presidential Election that was nullified by five judges […]
There was drama at Blantyre Magistrate Court as Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) commissioner Jean Mathanga lashed at a newspaper photojournalist for taking pictures of her and demanded that they be deleted. Mathanga was appearing at the court as former Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) board chairperson who was arrested by Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) together […]
A commissioner of the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC), Jean Mathanga, who is former Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) board chairperson has been formally charged together with former chief executive officer John Kandulu and two others in connection with a K4 billion corruption scandal at the power utility. Mathanga, Kandulu, former Escom director of procurement Fanuel […]
Four Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) commissioners have received summons from the High Court to explain how they were appointed and they are meeting their lawyers on the matter. This was revealed by MEC chairperson Dr Chifundo Kachale during the Thursday night press briefing in Lilongwe. “I can confirm that four commissioners are not present here […]