All Saints Anglican Church at Mtunthama in Kasungu is bitter with ESCOM for failing to connect power to a bakery meant for income generation of its orphanage despite the church paying over K6 Million for power connection.

Church Warden Kennedy Kamphambe says the church paid ESCOM in 2018 after a UK-based well-wisher procured and installed bakery equipment for the orphans.

"The bakery was to support the orphanage to be generating own income than depending on well-wishers. ESCOM told us to pay over 6 Million kwacha for a transformer and other materials which we did with the support from the donor," said Kamphale.

But since 2018 ESCOM is yet to connect power to the bakery.

Kamphambe says what is surprising though is the power utility board has been connecting new customers ever since leaving behind the charity initiative.

"We have been knocking at their doors time and again but they just promise and days have turned to months, months to years, nothing on the ground. "

Kamphambe says in early 2019 Escom mounted a small old transformer near the bakery after the UK-based donor engaged the UK High Commissioner in Malawi.

Since then, the bakery equipment is gathering dust and the donor seems frustrated.

"We are doing this for the sake of the vulnerable children but it seems ESCOM doesn't understand the challenges these orphans go through," He lamented.

Mphatso Banda, one of the founders of All Saints Mtunthama Opharnage says the church's mothers union established the place to mitigate the impact of orphanhood due to HIV and AIDS.

He says the orphanage is experiencing reduced support from well-wishers due to COVID 19 pandemic and the bakery would ease the pressure.

"The orphanage needs to pay nuns and buy food for the kids every day. All these need a stable income, " he said.

Zodiak has learnt that for the past two months, support towards the orphanage has significantly reduced due to Covid 19 restrictions.

"We are planning to take action against Escom, whether it will demand us holding a vigil with the orphans we will go by that," said Kamphambe.

Escom Public Relations Officer Innocent Chitosi was yet to respond to a questionnaire Zodiak sent to him.

The Kasungu based orphanage is a home of over sixty postmen some of whom were adopted on day one.

Member of Parliament for Salima North constituency has warned unless government improves on financial allocation towards the forestry department, the fight against illegal charcoal burning will be challenged.