20100615
africanews

With the event of the World Cup in South Africa, the Malawi Electricity Supply Commission (Escom) has stopped its habitual power cut-outs. The company said it is its desire to offer all Malawians an opportunity to watch the world soccer showing without interruptions.

President Bingu wa Mutharika cautioned the sole power supplier against continued blackouts during the games. He said he was off to watch the opening ceremony in Johannesburg and hoped that all Malawians would witness it as well uninterrupted.

"We wish to ask all Malawians to switch off fridges, heaters and other appliances that are not necessarily in use to sustain power. We also advise all to use power saver bulbs," says Escom in a televised and printed press statement.

Power consumers, however, say Escom should have started sensitizing users years back.

"They are a bit too late. Does it have to take the World Cup for the company to stop the irritating power outages?" said Wilned Chawinga in the Capital City, Lilongwe.

Malawi is known for its constant blackouts in what Escom calls 'load shedding'. The habit has constrained the industrial and banking sectors. Consumers sometimes brave perpetual darkness over days and have lost equipment due to sudden power inning.