Lack of access to sustainable energy has hindered significant economic transformation in Malawi. With country-wide electrification appallingly lower at 12 percent and only three percent of rural Malawians connected to the national grid, economic activities have been sluggish and mostly leaving out women resulting in many households living below the poverty lines. 

A decade and three years ago Msuka village in Rumphi district, Malawi was among the many villages with no electricity connection. Despite interconnector overhead cables a few meters away heading for the neighboring district of Karonga, the village had no electricity and was reliant on biofuels for energy needs with no hope for any connectivity to the power grid. The community members struggled to partake in economic activities, especially those powered by electricity due to unreliable sources. 

“The situation was bad back then. Whenever it was raining people could stay the whole day without eating because they could not manage to walk the hilly and rocky terrain for five kilometers to the nearest maize mill in Livingstonia.” Recollects Ida Msowoya, Msuka village resident. 

“We also struggled when it came to charging our mobile phones as we had to travel the same distance of five kilometers to Livingstonia. Even students were finding it hard to study after the sunset, a situation which affected the pass rate.” Adds the mother of two. 

Ida’s husband, John Sailesi, was instrumental in bringing electricity to the village. His quest to bring electricity to his village began with bourgeoning interest in electronic repair, a skill he acquired during his stay in Mzuzu city. He received support from the community members, the chief who gave him land on which the power plant was installed, and later UNDP through the Access to Clean and Renewable Energy (ACRE) project.