BY: Kassim Kajosolo
Former Chikwawa Nkombezi Member of Parliament Abida Mia has rejected social media claims that she removed an electricity transformer in the area as revenge for not being voted back into office during the September 16 parliamentary polls.
In a statement, Mia stressed that the allegations are unfounded, saying the transformer replacement was a technical matter handled by the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM).
“I never went there. I was surprised to see people spreading such claims online. I respect democracy and the people’s choice during the September 16 elections,” Mia said.
She also dismissed reports that she seized a motorcycle ambulance from Chiphwaila Health Centre and another ambulance from Thelele.
According to her, she only contributed funds to repair the motorcycle ambulance for patients to access Mgabu Health Centre, while the other vehicle was officially allocated by government to Chikwawa District Hospital.
Mia has urged her supporters to remain calm, warning that more false accusations may surface but insisting her focus remains on improving people’s lives.
Meanwhile, ESCOM has backed her position, stressing that the transformer issue had nothing to do with politics. The corporation’s chief public relations and communications officer, Pilirani Phiri, explained that a 1MVA transformer at Ngabu Cotton Ginnery developed a fault, causing power disruption.
Since no immediate replacement of the same capacity was in stock, ESCOM swapped transformers between two areas: moving the 1MVA transformer from Mphango to Ngabu, and installing a 500KVA unit at Mphango, which only requires domestic supply.
“This arrangement has ensured both Ngabu and Mphango continue to have electricity despite the fault,” Phiri said,
He has urging the public not to be misled by misinformation.