Civil society organisations have sharply escalated their dispute with the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC), warning that they will drag the institution to court if it continues to interfere in Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) procurement processes.
The groups say the OPC must immediately “lay hands off” ESCOM procurement decisions, insisting that continued involvement amounts to unlawful interference and abuse of power.
Speaking in Lilongwe, the coalition of CSOs—including HRCC, MaBLEM, FND, CHRR, and HRDC—said they are now prepared to take legal action to stop what they describe as political manipulation of procurement systems.
They argue that procurement decisions must remain strictly under statutory bodies such as the Public Procurement and Disposal of Assets Authority (PPDA) and ESCOM’s internal committees, without presidential or administrative override.
The CSOs allege that interference from OPC has compromised fairness in the awarding of contracts, including cases where certain companies are allegedly sidelined despite receiving regulatory clearance.
“OPC has no mandate to interfere in procurement. We are left with no option but to go to court if this continues,” the civil society leaders warned.
They say court action will be pursued if the alleged interference is not immediately halted, adding that the move is aimed at restoring legality, transparency, and independence in public procurement.
The organisations have maintained that the dispute is no longer just a policy concern but a legal and governance issue that requires judicial intervention.
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