By Peter Davieson

The President of the Association of Environmental Journalists (AEJ) Titus Linzie says the ongoing power outages are not only disrupting business activities but also undermining efforts to protect the environment in Malawi.

Linzie noted that the situation has severely affected individuals and businesses that rely heavily on electricity for their operations.

“Many people are now struggling to run their businesses due to the persistent power blackouts. This has forced some to temporarily shut down operations, which negatively impacts economic productivity,” said Linzie.

He further pointed out that the shortage of gas in retail outlets has pushed many households to revert to traditional cooking methods, such as using charcoal and firewood — practices that contribute significantly to deforestation.

“If the government does not address this issue urgently, people will continue cutting down trees to meet their energy needs, which could reverse the gains we have made in environmental conservation,” he warned.

Linzie has since appealed to the government to resolve the electricity challenges and ensure that gas is readily available and affordable on the market.