Blantyre residents are speaking out against ESCOMs’ proposed tariff hike, saying that the parastatal should only increase its tariffs when the power situation has been improved and stable.
Blackouts across the country have become the norm, despite their crippling effects on both businesses and households.
The tariff increase is said to be inevitable as EGENCO needs capital to hire Diesel generators from ESCOM to reduce power outages.
Speaking to Capital FM, residents in of the commercial capital indicated that the move is unjustifiable.
“Why should they hike tariffs as if they are giving us power when we need it?” one Chilobwe woman asked.
Another who is based in Ndirande Township said the move will have very negative impacts on a majority of Malawians.
“This will affect us badly; the hike should have only been made if we had more hours of powers and maybe two or three hours without it.
There is no point is raising tariffs as if we have electricity to even pay for, “she added.
Meanwhile, Associate Professor of Law at the Chancellor College Edge Kanyongolo disclosed to Capital FM that there is no constitutional provision on electricity supply that the public can use to make a legal complaint over the prevailing blackouts.
The Professor explains that the public can however use their right and freedom to assemble and hold demonstrations as a way of making the power supplier accountable.
In the same vein, human rights activist Billy Mayaya is planning on holding demonstrations on the blackouts that ESCOM customers are being subjected to.
Mayaya said the power outages are affecting various works in the country.
“The time has come for Malawians to rise up and be heard.
“We demand good services because this is not the first time that we have been subjected to this,” Mayaya said.
However that date or venue for the demonstrations is yet to be set.
