The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) Limited has pledged to improve electricity supply in Nsanje District by prioritising maintenance works and reducing delays in fault resolution.
ESCOM Acting Regional Manager for the Southern Region, Mr. Kelvin Chatonda, made the commitment on Thursday, 29 January 2026, during an engagement meeting held at Nsanje District Council Offices.
The meeting brought together District Council officials, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Traditional Leaders, and business owners.
Chatonda acknowledged the electricity challenges facing the district and assured stakeholders that ESCOM will take decisive steps to address them.
“We are going to prioritise maintenance activities in Nsanje and ensure that faults are attended to promptly so that customers are not left without power for long periods,” he said.
Earlier, narrating the challenges experienced by residents, Nsanje CSO Chairperson, Mr. Mike Dansa, said the district has been grappling with frequent power blackouts, unreliable electricity supply, and prolonged delays in repairing broken power lines.
“For months, and in some areas for years, people in Nsanje have experienced frequent blackouts and long delays when faults occur. When power lines break down, repairs can take many days without any updates from ESCOM,” said Dansa.
He added that residents often report faults but receive no feedback, while attempts to contact ESCOM offices are frequently unsuccessful. Dansa further noted that low voltage has become a persistent problem, damaging household appliances, affecting small businesses, and disrupting essential services such as health facilities, schools, and water supply systems.
“These challenges have made life very difficult for ordinary citizens who depend on electricity for their livelihoods, safety, and access to basic services,” he said, adding that the CSOs opted for dialogue as a peaceful way of seeking solutions.
ESCOM Chief Public Relations and Communications Officer, Mr. Pilirani Phiri, said the Corporation has taken the concerns raised by the Nsanje community seriously.
“Improving the reliability of our services is a priority, and we are committed to finding lasting solutions for the community,” said Phiri.
Phiri disclosed that while the District Council had proposed an engagement meeting with ESCOM on 17 February 2026, the Corporation felt the matter required urgent attention.
“Our reasoning was that waiting until February 17 was too far for such a crucial and urgent issue. That is why we planned to address these concerns much sooner,” he said.