By Pascas Francisco, ESCOM Public Relations Intern
Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) Limited has drilled five boreholes in Neno and Mwanza districts for the communities displaced by the Mozambique-Malawi (MOMA) 400kv Power Transmission Project.
ESCOM Chief Executive Officer, Mr Kamkwamba Kumwenda, confirmed that the corporation drilled three boreholes in Mwanza and two in Neno to empower the communities who relocated from their pieces of land and pave the way for the transmission line.
He said this in an interview after ESCOM handed over the first borehole at Jonathan Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Mlauli in Neno on Friday, August 23, 2024, as part of compensation for MOMA Project Affected Persons (PPAs).
Task Team Leader and guest of honour, Zhengjia Meng from the World Bank witnessed the borehole handover ceremony and praised Malawi’s progress in MOMA’s implementation.
MOMA project implementers on the Mozambique side, Eletricidade De Mocambique (EDM), consultants, Intec GOPA and L & T Contractors also witnessed the handover which was part of the project’s progress assessment tour.
Jonathan community member, Maxwell Smart, said the borehole would address the challenges of limited access to potable water while Neno District Water Development Officer, Richard Mkandawire, urged the community members to care for the borehole.
ESCOM Social and Gender Inclusion Manager, Elube Chienda, said the drilling of borehole proves that “the MOMA Project is not only bringing electricity but also lightening up the communities and transforming lives in different aspects.”
ESCOM is also constructing two school blocks, a health clinic, a community-based child care centre (CBCC), a waiting bay at Chifunga Health Centre in Neno and 49 houses across Neno and Mwanza.
MOMA involves constructing a 218-kilometre high voltage transmission line from Matambo Substation in Tete, Mozambique, to Malawi through Mwanza, Neno then Phombeya Substation in Balaka. MOMA will bring 120 megawatts to Malawi thanks to financiers, KfW, the European Union, the World Bank and the Malawi Government.