Environmental sustainability continues to take centre stage as communities and institutions mobilise to protect natural resources for future generations.
On Saturday, 17th January 2025, Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) Limited demonstrated its commitment to environmental stewardship by supporting tree planting initiatives in Blantyre City and Luchenza. During the two separate events, ESCOM handed over 9,000 indigenous and fruit tree seedlings to Blantyre City Council and provided K1 million in financial support to the Luchenza Secondary School (LUSS) Alumni towards their tree planting exercise respectively.
The initiatives form part of ESCOM’s broader environmental responsibility under the Malawi Electricity Access Project (MEAP), which has been implemented up to December 2025 with funding from the World Bank.
ESCOM and BT Coucil officials take a group photo.
MEAP was categorised as a low-risk project in terms of environmental and social impacts. However, ESCOM developed and implemented an Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) to guide project implementation. One of the environmental impacts identified in the ESMP was the potential loss of trees during electricity network construction. To mitigate this impact, ESCOM committed to avoiding tree cutting where possible and replacing trees where avoidance was not feasible.
Although MEAP concluded in December 2025, ESCOM has continued to honour its environmental commitments by supporting tree planting activities through District Councils, including Blantyre City Council, which are custodians of land where the project was implemented.
Guest of Honour at the event, ESCOM Chief Administration Officer, Thandie Tambala, said the initiative reflects the Corporation’s obligation to balance infrastructure development with environmental protection.
“Under MEAP, ESCOM committed not only to expanding electricity access but also to ensuring that environmental impacts associated with the project are responsibly managed. Supporting Blantyre City Council’s tree planting initiative is part of our efforts to replace trees that may have been lost during project implementation and to promote sustainable environmental management in our cities,” said Tambala.
Receiving the support on behalf of the Council, Joseph Bodole, Director of Public Works for Blantyre City Council, described ESCOM’s gesture as timely and commendable.
“This is the right time for such an intervention, and Blantyre City Council sincerely commends ESCOM for this gesture. Tree planting is critical in restoring our urban environment and addressing the effects of climate change, especially in cities like Blantyre,” said Bodole.
Bodole further assured ESCOM of the Council’s commitment to ensuring the successful planting and sustainability of the trees.
“We will ensure that the trees are planted in appropriate locations and properly cared for. As a Council, we pledge that within a year, ESCOM will be able to see grown and thriving trees as a result of this initiative,” he said.
In Luchenza, environmental stewardship is being championed by the Luchenza Secondary School Alumni, who organised a tree planting exercise as a way of giving back to their community and strengthening climate resilience.
According to LUSS Alumni President, Chifundo Dimasi, the initiative brings together former students united by a shared responsibility to contribute to sustainable development through practical action.
“By promoting tree planting, the group is responding to challenges such as deforestation, land degradation, and climate change, which directly affect livelihoods and sustainable development,” said Dimasi.
ESCOM Rep pose with LUSS Alumni
ESCOM Chief Public Relations and Communications Officer, Pilirani Phiri, said supporting community-led environmental programmes aligns with the Corporation’s commitment to sustainability and responsible corporate citizenship.
“As a power utility, our operations are closely linked to environmental stewardship. Supporting initiatives such as this tree planting exercise helps promote sustainable land use and contributes to long-term environmental protection, which is critical for the future of energy supply and community wellbeing,” said Phiri.
Phiri added that the Blantyre City Council and Luchenza Alumni initiatives demonstrate the value of partnerships between institutions and communities in driving sustainable development.
“When communities take the lead in addressing environmental challenges, the impact is more sustainable. Our role as ESCOM is to complement such efforts through partnerships that focus on long-term outcomes rather than short-term gains,” he said.