The Executive Management of Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) Limited has rewarded the company’s four members of staff—Gift Mlenga, Edgar Sungani Nyirenda, George Mtali Phiri, and Makuleya Botha— for their exceptional performance in protecting the corporation’s assets.
Mlenga, a Mulanje-based linesperson, Nyirenda (Call Centre Agent), Phiri (Meter Artisan), and Botha (driver), received certificates of recognitions and cash prizes at a ceremony held at Mpemba Training Centre for ESCOM on Tuesday, March 12, 2024.
Mlenga rescued a transformer from vandals in Mulanje, Phiri and Botha thwarted an attempted meter by-pass in Ndirande Township whereas Nyirenda averted a potential fire accident at Customer Care and Call Centre offices in Blantyre earlier this year.
ESCOM Chief Executive Officer Mr. Kamkwamba Kumwenda, alongside the Director of Systems and Market Operator Eng. Charles Kagona, Director of Human Resources and Administration Mr. Chrispin Banda, and Director of Procurement Gift Mike Gwaza presented the awards to the four officers.
In his speech, Kumwenda called on all ESCOM employees to work as a team in safeguarding the company’s property from acts of theft and vandalism.
He said ESCOM has a great responsibility to ensure that the masses have electricity and said this cannot be achieved if property is vandalized.
In his earlier speech, Kagona, who stood in for Acting Director of Distribution and Customer Services Eng. Gilbert Chodzaza, urged ESCOM employees to work hard in serving customers in line with the Integrated Strategic Plan (ISP-27).
Banda said Management came up with a Recognition and Rewards Policy after noting that ESCOM then lacked guidelines for rewarding exceptional performers in the company.
“Management, in consultation with ESCOM Staff Union, sat down and noted that there were many employees who were working hard and deserved recognition. However, there was no standard to follow on how to go about this and that was the genesis of this policy,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the awardees, Mlenga said: “I am so overwhelmed with joy and even encouraged to work hard because this is the first time that I am receiving such an award since I joined ESCOM in 2012.”
Earlier, Contact Centre Manager Innocent Chitosi, speaking on behalf of Revenue Protection Manager Douglas Kamanga and Mulanje District Engineer Dumisan Zinga, under whose jurisdiction the awardees came, thanked management for the recognition, saying it would go a long way in motivating the rest of the members of staff.
Taking his turn, ESCOM Staff Union Vice-President Alex Chatsila echoed Chitosi’s remarks.
