The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) Limited has announced plans to replace Escom House, which was damaged by fire in 2013, with a modern multi-storey office building in the next two-and-a-half years.

Speaking to the media last week, Escom Board Chairperson, Fredrick Changaya, said  architectural designs for the project are at an advanced stage. “The plan is not to bring back what was burnt. This is CBD Blantyre. Our plan is to make sure that we have a high-rise office block that is going to house all Escom employees in Blantyre.” he said.

The new building will include a modern car park and office blocks for the government agencies and departments to rent at subsidised rates, as  the new Board of Directors was determined to ensure that all financial resources for Escom go towards service delivery such as preventive maintenance and faults clearing instead of spending millions of kwacha on rentals as is the case now.

“We know that it has taken very long and we don’t know why” said Changaya, “but as the new Board and the new Government, we have undertaken to make sure that this structure is replaced.”