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Grace Malera gave the directive
The Office of the Ombudsman (OoO) in Malawi has directed the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) to pay Former First Lady Patricia Dzimbiri over MK185,000 [USD115] an amount of money equivalent to 948.2 electricity units for incorrect tariffs charged on electricity at her home in Balaka district.
Ombudsman Grace Malera has in her determination asked the power supply utility body to make the payment within adding that the money should be paid at current value further factoring in the 44 percent devaluation of the Malawi currency which just happened.
Honorable Malera has also asked Escom Management to formally apologize to Dzimbiri.
“The respondent should issue a written apology to the complainant for the inefficient manner in which they handled her accounts and the inconveniences caused and the unfair treatments arising thereof,” reads the directive.
Honorable Malera among other things has faulted the utility body for maladministration for charging Patricia Muluzi's dwelling house on three phase from 2012 to 2019.
The Ombudsman has also asked the Power Company to review its internal controls and quality assurance strategies in relation to electricity metering systems.
When contacted Dzimbiri who was wife to Malawi’s first Democratic President Bakili hopes the determination will serve as a lesson to Escom while rendering services to Malawians.
She stressed on the need for government Parastatals to be professional and customer oriented when rendering services.
In May 2020, Dzimbiri lodged a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman alleging that Escom had been using an incorrect tariff to charge electricity on her home in Balaka, issuing unjustified arrears to settle and double-charging on a meter at her business premises between 2012 and 2019.
Source: The Office of the Ombudsman of Malawi
