A nationwide blackout has gripped Malawi since Wednesday, plunging the southern African nation into darkness and disrupting essential services, particularly in public hospitals.
The state-owned power utility company, Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM), has been unable to provide electricity to its 20 million citizens, leaving the country in complete darkness.
Energy Minister Ibrahim Matola confirmed the blackout, stating that the government, through ESCOM, is working tirelessly to restore power.
“We are striving to ensure that electricity supply is resumed before the end of the day,” Matola said, emphasizing the need to investigate the cause of the outage.
The blackout has had a significant impact on healthcare services in public hospitals, according to John Kapito, head of the Consumers Association of Malawi (CAMA).
Kapito expressed concerns about the potential loss of lives due to the disruption of medical equipment and services.
“We urge the government to address this issue promptly,” he said.