MERA launch electricity inspection campaign

Fire incidents are expected to be reduced following an inspection exercise of houses and buildings by the Malawi Energy Regulatory Authority (MERA).
The two year exercise which will be conducted cross the country, targets all buildings that use electricity to ensure safe energy utilization and minimize accidents.

There have been increasing fire incidents, especially in flea markets, largely due to poor electrical wiring and connections.

This has led to loss of property worth millions of Kwacha.

MERA’s Chief Executive Officer Alex Chiwaya told Capital fm “the by-laws established last year, give us the power to carry-out this exercise.

“You may have heard about the fire accidents, which were caused by either electrical wiring inside, which is outside Escom’s mandate.

“So we want to prevent that from happening. These accidents could lead to so much loss of property and of course life. So we want to see that these accident be prevented or minimized.”

Energy authorities have since threatened to punish all non-registered electrical installers for illegal operations, stating that the penalty is 5 million kwacha or ten years imprisonment with hard labour.