CAMA TO CHALLENGE ELECTRICITY TARIFFS HIKE IN COURT

Consumer Association of Malawi (CAMA) Executive Director John Kapito has said he will apply for another injunction restraining the recent increase in the electricity.

Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA) hiked electricity tariffs from K53.69 to K57.07 (about $0.10) effective February 6, 20 15 barely a month after another increase.

In a statement signed by MERA board chairperson Dingiswayo Jere, the board approved the hike following a review of Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) tariff through the Automatic Tariff Adjustment Formula.

Jere said after considering the impact of inflation rate and exchange rate movement the electricity tariff qualified for an upward adjustment.

But speaking in an interview with one of the local media houses in the country, Kapito said the reasons given by MERA are not justifiable considering the fact that a month ago there was another adjustment in price.

When pressed on the previous injunction, Kapito said the injunction is still there and his board will apply for another injunction to stop the increase, saying Malawians are paying dearly.

The continued depreciation of the Kwacha continues to affect Malawians as prices of goods are going up daily.