The DPP has criticised president Chakwera’s State of Nation Address (SONA) address saying it has failed to tackle major issues affecting the majority of Malawians.
In a statement dated 27 February, 2023, signed by DPP’s spokesperson, Hon. Shadreck Namalomba, the party has critiqued among other sectors, the president’s failure to fulfil his campaign promises in the energy sector.
The statement says Chakwera’s administration did not implement the 2000 megawatts of electricity project to the energy sector, as stipulated during the MCP manifesto for 2019 to 2024.
“Up to now no single megawatt has been added to the grid. Instead black outs have increased. There is no strategy to resolve the power supply challenges facing the country, reads part of the statement.”
Earlier this year the Minister of Energy, Ibrahim Matola disclosed that the government has set up plans to use Zoa falls, for power generation where it will get 40 megawatts to add to the national grid.
In September 2023, President Lazarus Chakwera signed a 1 billion dollar deal between government of Malawi, International Finance Corporation, (IFC), Scatec ASA’s Hydropower joint venture and Electricite de France for the development of 350 megawatt Mpatamanga Hydro power plant on Shire River, in a bid to add 1000 megawatts to the grid in the next three years.
Reported by Alex Splendor Ngulube