LILONGWE-(MaraviPost)- The governing Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Lilongwe City Centre constituency, David Bisnowarty on Tuesday, hailed Electricity Supply Commission of Malawi (ESCOM) for its peri-urban electrification that is expected to reach 90,000 households by November this year.
This is a joint venture project between the World Bank and ESCOM, targeting peri-urban areas in the three major cities, Lilongwe, Blantyre and Mzuzu.
In the project, the World Bank and ESCO, have pumped in US$3.5 million and MK46 million respectively, for the provision of transformers. Network users have free access, but they will only be required to pay a connection fee.
The initiative, which targets 20 peri-urban areas (Blantyre, 12, Lilongwe, 13 and Mzuzu, 5), aims at increasing electricity access rate from the current 9% to 17% by the year 2025.
The Lilongwe city center constituency, will benefit from the initiative with an expected 3,000 households to be connected to electricity including; this includes Chimoka, Area 50, Area 25 (close Lilongwe Teacher Training College (Lilongwe TTC), Area 49 Sector 6, and Area 17, among others.
Speaking to The Maravi Post after a media tour, which ESCOM and Lilongwe City Council held, Bisnowarty commended the initiative, and said it will promote small-scale business for lower income families.
Bisnowarty added that with the completion of Area 18 tarmacked road, the project will also enhance security among constituents, who have been victimized with persistent robberies.
“This is one of my key agenda items when I was vying for this post as a Member of Parliament (MP); to bring good infrastructure development, including road networks, electricity, and school blocks among others.
“We will make sure that beneficiaries are sensitized fully on all the requirements for them to access the electricity before the project gets underway, end of this month, May,” Bisnowarty said.
Echoing the same, Lilongwe City Council Major Desmond Bikoko, said the initiative will shape the city’s outlook for the better to attract tourists.
In her remarks, Kitty Chingota, ESCOM Senior Public Relations Officer, assured the public of the company’s commitment to connect less privilege households with access to electrify.
Chingota said the program has been designed with caution and that power interruptions should not be experienced due to the new connections for high demand.
She added that Malawi’s sole electricity supply Commission, is working closely with its sister company, Electricity Generation Company (EGENCO) for the provision of other energy alternatives, to meet electricity demands.