The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) says it will not take responsibility over an ESCOM electricity pole induced fire that destroyed a house of Mrs Agnes Maseko in Neno District yesterday.

An ESCOM assessment reveled that the incident happened as a result of their pole that fell on the house and ignited fire that damaged property of the victim.

In press release the power utility body said as an entity, they are not responsibility for any compensation as the affected building was built within the poles jurisdiction.

ESCOM Chief Public relations officer Pilirani Phiri  told Zodiak Online today, Monday, that although the power utility body is sympathyising with the victims customers must elect their structures 15 meters away from their poles.

" We are a grieving with the family but it should be noted that escom will not compensate the family because their house is not outside the pole but within," said Phiri. 

Phiri added that as per ESCOMs rules, developers are supposed to construct their structures fifteen (15) metres away from ESCOM property but in this case the family built their house seven (7) metres from ESCOM electricity pole that falled on the house.

Meanwhile, Phiri has called upon people to follow guidelines whenever they want to develop their land to avoid similar occurrences. 

The house which had six occupants was caught fire yesterday (Sunday) at around 9 o'clock in the night which affected electricity supply in the district. 

Neno District Council Disaster Risk Management officer Brighton Mphinga said the family now has no shelter hence his call for assistance.

He said, " they are no stress and need our help, they have no place to live as all their property was damaged during the inferno. We appeal for humanitarian aid despite the nature of this incident," said Mphinga.

In Neno District, during the rainy season, issues of falling electricity pole are order of the day as many are rotten and left unattended by the power utility body. At times it takes long to be fixed.

The district has no ESCOM office, and it depends on Mwanza district team to fix, which takes long due to among other things lack of fuel.