Consumers Association of Malawi(Cama) executive director John Kapito has questioned government’s decision to prioritise implementation of free electricity connections instead of increasing power generation.
He said this in reaction to Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi(Escom) acting chief executive officer Clement Kanyama’s statement on Friday, saying government was working to identfy funds to implement the free electricity connections programme this year.
But in a statement realeased on Saturday, Kapito said the free electricity connection promise is unrealistic given the current economic situation.
He asked government to fucus on addressing real issues affecting Malawians such as shortage of drugs in hospitals and improving the healthcare and education, among others.
Kapito said: ”We are shocked that government wants to implement a social programme such as free electricity connections at a time when our key sectors such as health and education have collapsed.
”Malawians are already paying higher taxes and one of them is Malawi Rural Electrification Programme[Marep] which is intended to provide electricity to consumers in both peri-urban and rural communities.”
Speaking at a media conference in Lilongwe on Friday, Kanyama said free electricity connections will roll out towards the end of this year.
He said Escom has the Malawi Electricity Access Project and the Malawi Rural Electrification Programme which are reaching out to vulnerable people with free connectivity.
Kanyama said between 2018 and 2021, Escom received 258000 power connection applications out of which 163000 have been effected and 95000 are on waiting list.
”Out of the 95000 applications, Escom intends to connect 40000 by june this year and the remainder in the next half of the year,” he said.
The free electricity connection programme is one of the campaign promises by Tonse Alliance.
Source: The Nation_January 11, 2022_By Steve Chilundu-Staff Reporter