By Peter Kanjere, Snr Public Relations Officer, ESCOM Ltd
Minister of Energy Ibrahim Matola says he hopes the passing of a Bill in Parliament to amend the Electricity Act would help step up the fight against vandalism of Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) Limited assets.
Speaking on Saturday when he graced an anti-vandalism campaign for ESCOM held at Mangochi Stadium, Matola said the bill, which Parliament passed last week, paves the way for stiffer punishments for convicts of vandalism.
“Parliament has passed the bill which now awaits the President to ascent to it. I hope the President will ascent to it. We cannot go on like this. We need stiffer punishment for the vandals,” he said.
The Minister described vandalism of ESCOM assets such as transformers, oil, conductors, stay wires, and poles as tantamount to economic sabotage, saying the vice undermines the government’s efforts to ensure that the manufacturing industry has access to enough electricity to aid production.
Reacting to the passing of the bill, ESCOM Chief Public Relations Officer, Kitty Chingota, concurred with the Minister, saying the amendment of the Act would complement the power utility company’s efforts to curb vandalism.
Section 45 (1) of the amended Act reads: “A person who carries on in any manner an activity for the supply of electricity in contravention of this Act, or fails to carry out any order or decision of the Authority or a licensee made or given under this Act, commits an offence and is, upon conviction, liable to a fine of K100,000,000 and imprisonment for twenty years.”
Section 45 (2a and 2b) adds that any person “who connects electricity to premises without written authorization of the licensee or disturbs or tampers with any electricity meter or other measuring instrument or apparatus commits an offence and is, upon conviction, liable to a fine of K100,000,000 and imprisonment for ten years.”
Section 45 (4) provides a non-fineable penalty of thirty years for vandalism and possession of equipment stolen from a licensee, the section reads: (a) if found in possession of equipment stolen from a licensee; or (b) damages, destroys, or vandalizes any electricity installation equipment or apparatus, commits an offence and is, upon conviction, liable to imprisonment for thirty years.
Section 45 (5) provides enhanced penalty of MK150,000,000 and 25 years’ imprisonment if a licensee’s employee or former employee is involved in the illegal connection or meter tamper. The Section states,
“Without prejudice to the right of a licensee to recover for illegal consumption of electricity, including costs associated with such recovery, a person, being an employee or former employee of a licensee, who_
- (a) connects or assists a person to connect, electricity without authorization of the licensee; or
- disturbs or tampers or assists a person to disturb or to tamper, with an electricity meter or any other measuring instrument or apparatus, commits an offence and is, upon conviction, liable to a fine of K150,000,000 and to imprisonment for twenty-five years.”