The Parliamentary Cluster on Agricultural and Natural Resources on Wednesday sent back officials from the Ministry of Energy, Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) and Electricity Generation Company (Egenco) over failure by the officials to relay relevant details.

According to the Cluster`s Co-Chairperson, Werani Chilenga, the two Parastatals and the Ministry should return to the Cluster with detailed explanation on how they intend to resolve electricity challenges rocking the country.

Meanwhile, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Energy, Patrick Matanda, has assured that they will get back with proper answers next week.

In an interview, Chilenga said the Cluster is demanding an explanation on issues to do with delays in connecting electricity, electricity blackouts and implementation of Malawi Rural Electrification Programme MAREP 9.

“What we were looking for is the Vote that they used for MAREP projects because it is not reflected in vote 490 so before we actually look at the Vote for Ministry of Energy we have told them to go back and bring us detailed information on how they have spent money meant for MAREP projects.

We have also asked ESCOM to go back to their drawing board and come up with a comprehensive report, they should tell us why they are failing to connect people with electricity in time as people are staying up to 4 years without being connected,” said Chilenga.

Parliamentarians are rocked in clusters where they are meeting different stakeholders as they scrutinize the 2020/21 national budget presented by Finance Minister, Felix Mlusu, on September 11.