Several districts in the Southern Region are experiencing loss of telecommunication services following the fire that gutted Malawi Telecommunication Limited exchange facility in Thyolo.
The interruption of MTL’s voice and data services has affected Thyolo, Mulanje, Phalombe districts as well as Luchenza municipality and other parts of the Lower shire.
The fire, which gutted the facility on March 27, burnt equipment worth million of kwacha.
The company says it is yet to assess the extent of the damage cause.
MTL says they are working with their counterparts to restore service and so far work is already underway to restore services for the affected customers.
MTL Head if Operations Fredrick Mswayo said they believe the cause of the fire was due to an electrical fault.
“The fire started at around 12 pm Wednesday and destroyed almost all communication equipment inside the building.” Mswayo said.
According to residents near the Thyolo boma where the MTL building is located, there was a black out which did not last for long. Shortly after the building was on fire.
Police Public Relations for the district, Amos Tione said that the cause of the fire has not yet been established.
Eyewitnesses told this publication that fire brigade from Blantyre City Council came late to the site and could not douse the fire as they did not have enough water.
Member of Parliament for Dedza, Juliana Lunguzi tabled a motion in the august House to allow councils and municipalities to have their own fire departments in order to avert such incidents.
