By Hopeson Kafumbwa—Public Relations Intern
Vandalism of Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) Limited underground cables in Makata Industrial Area in Blantyre have earned Osman Loyisi a two-year jail term while his accomplice is battling for life due to burn wounds.
Blantyre Third Grade Magistrate Gomani handed Loyisi the jail term on February 6, 2025, after finding him guilty of two counts of damaging ESCOM assets and vandalism committed close to LaFarge Cement Factory on January
24, 2025.
The 25-year-old, originally from Nkola Village, Chiradzulu District committed the offences alongside his accomplice who is yet to appear before the court, as he is admitted to Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital (QECH) with burn wounds suffered while extracting the cables.
One of the State witnesses in the case, ESCOM Security Officer Sergeant Macherbert Mhango, said Ndirande Police Station officers, in conjunction with ESCOM and Ndirande Community Policing personnel, arrested the two men while cutting a cable around LaFarge Cement factory at night.
Loyisi anchored the cable with his foot cable as his accomplice cut it with a hacksaw which accidentally got in contact with a live copper wire to spark an explosion.
“The one who was cutting the cable had severe burns on his face, legs, and arms and was taken to the hospital while Loyisi had minor injuries on his right leg and face and he fled from the scene,” he said.
Loyisi was eventually arrested in Ndirande the following day while stealing fresh maize cobs in a garden and when asked about the burn wounds, he revealed that he got burnt while cutting cables with his colleague.
Being found in possession of stolen ESCOM equipment and vandalising the same are offences attracting a maximum 30-year jail term with no option of paying a fine. This is according to the Electricity Amendment Act of 2024.