The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) Limited Dowa office team on Tuesday, August 13, 2024, busted a syndicate of illegal electricity extensions at Dzaleka Refugee Camp in the district.
Dowa ESCOM Senior Distribution Supervisor, Amon Chirwa, said they conducted the sweeping exercise after customers complained of frequent power supply outages at the refugee camp.
“A particular distribution transformer (1MVA), which supplies power to Dzaleka Health Centre, has been experiencing frequent faults due to illegal electricity extensions; hence, we intervened to disconnect them. We were afraid of losing the transformer as it was overloaded,” he said.
Chirwa said they had disconnected over 10 illegal extensions at the camp as of Tuesday, and the number might rise as the exercise is ongoing.
“The transformer supplies Dzaleka Health Centre and over 500 Dzaleka refugees. We have been repairing fuses daily on the transformer; hence, the intervention,” Chirwa said.
Acts of illegal connections are punishable by law with those found guilty in a court of law facing up to 20 years in jail and a maximum penalty of K100 million, according to Electricity (Amendment) Act 2024.
