Police at Jenda in Mzimba arrested three individuals on Wednesday, March 5 2025, suspected of vandalising and stealing a transformer and a 19-metre copper wire for ESCOM Limited at Kavinkhama in the district.
Jenda Police Station spokesperson, MacFarlane Maseteka, said the arrested suspects are Manyani Fagayi Shaba, who is charged with damaging the transformer and stealing the copper wire, Joel Joseph Zikiele, and Marko Banda, charged with receiving the stolen copper wire.
“The arrests follow a complaint lodged by ESCOM officials. This led to an immediate investigation, leading to the arrest of Shaba at an ad hoc roadblock,” he said.
Mseteka said the police received reports of an attack on the ESCOM transformer at Kavinkhama. In a response, officers set up an hoc roadblocks, which led to the interception of a vehicle on the night of March 5. Shaba, the driver, was found in possession of 10 kilogrammes of copper wire.
“Upon questioning, Shaba admitted to being involved in the vandalism of several ESCOM transformers, including those at Champhira, Kaufipa Primary School, and Jenda. He also named his buyers, which prompted Jenda police detectives to travel to Mzuzu the same night. There, they arrested Zikiele and Banda, who are known to buy scrap metal at the Vigwagwa market in Mzuzu,” he said.
Shaba was charged under Section 45, Subsection 2(d) of the Electricity Amendment Act of 2024 for vandalizing electricity installation equipment. Zikiele and Banda face charges of receiving the stolen property, contrary to Section 328, Subsection 1 of the Penal Code.
Shaba hails from Vumba Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Mzikubola in Mzimba, Zikiele is from Kangulu Village, T/A Kaphuta whereas Banda comes from Kaolo Village, T/A Tambala, both in Dedza.