By Thandie Chadzandiyani

LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)-The country’s utility body Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) Staff Union and management have agreed to call off a strike which was scheduled to commence on Thursday after agreeing on contentious issues.

As noticed last Thursday, the Union issued a notice that all Escom workers will put their tools down due to disagreements on protracted labour issues.

The issues include demand for harmonization of salaries and other benefits and reforms in the energy sector which has seen the establishment of Power Market Limited (PML) as a single electricity buyer.

However the Minister of Energy Newton Kambala confirmed in an interview that the Ministry intervened and agreed to address the issues within an agreed time frame.

Kambala said, “Government is already working on resolving some of the concerns such as salary harmonization and the Power Purchase Agreement between Egenco and Escom which they are worried about”

“A properly reviewed Power Purchase Agreement between Egenco and Escom should be done by 15 April while the salary concerns, we have agreed to be done by the end of April” he continued

On the PML, Kambala said they have agreed to review the issue within six months from now and decide whether the company should be abolished or assimilated within Escom as a single buyer

The question is in these six months which they are waiting to solve this issue will the workers work with their hearts or just to appease their bosses.

The Minister has also told Parliament that increased vandalism of electricity equipment may force government, through Escom, to increase tariffs.

Kambala complained that on daily basis, there are reports of a transformer being blown out in many parts of the country.

He said currently, Escom and Marep Project do not have extra transformers to immediately replace the affected places.

This has lead to blackouts everywhere in country  with no immediate help to the consumers.