Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Esther Mcheka-Chilenje, yesterday apologised to Members of Parliament (MPs) over a power cut that disrupted deliberations in the House.
“May I sincerely apologise for that interruption. We are yet to know the reason,” Chilenje said.
By the time the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) cut power from the Parliament Building, the Minister of Health and Population, Atupele Muluzi, was holding the floor as he was responding to questions directed to his ministry.
Democratic Progressive Party legislator for Thyolo Thava, Mary Navicha asked the ministry to explain what it was doing to resolve challenges her constituents are facing to access healthcare services.
But Muluzi barely addressed the question before darkness engulfed the House. And when light returned to the chamber, Chilenje apologised to the MPs.
Blackouts have become the order of the day in Malawi, affecting households and companies, especially the manufacturing sector.
President Peter Mutharika in promised that the blackouts would ease in December [this month] when diesel stand-by generators would be commissioned and add about 55 MW to the grid.