Village Head (VH) Assani of Mangochi was electrocuted on Wednesday, September 11, 2024, while reportedly vandalising an ESCOM Limited powerline in the lakeshore district.
Mangochi Police Station spokesperson, Amina Daudi, confirmed that the body of Assani, born Stand Ayami, was found lying next to an electric pole while holding a hacksaw at Chipunga Estate, Traditional Authority Bwananyambi.
“The police warn the public against tampering with or stealing Escom property, as this is life-threatening. Report anyone engaging in such criminal activities, as they negatively affect the electricity supply,” Daudi said.
Police believe the 57-year-old, a well-known tinsmith in the area, was electrocuted after climbing the pole to the high-voltage fuse point to cut a stay wire, which was found vandalized.
Eye witnessed told the police that VH Assani left his house on Wednesday night for an unknown destination and did not return, only for his burnt lifeless body to be discovered the following morning of Thursday.
Police, medical, and ESCOM personnel found the body with the hacksaw in the right hand next to a piece of ESCOM wire and fragments of the hacksaw scattered around it.
Earlier this week, Vandalism, theft and possessing Escom Limited aluminium conductors, valued at K6 million, earned Manson Simbeye an eight-year jail term and six years for Patrick Mpepu in Mzuzu.
Some days ago, Mulanje Senior Resident Magistrates’ Court jailed Gift M’mangisa, Geoffrey Patrick and Afiki Charles for eight years each on 3rd September 2024 for stealing, possessing and vandalising Escom conductors from a transformer in Chiradzulu District. The case was transferred to Mulanje
Escom has lost K4 billion in revenue and replacement costs in the last two years due to theft and vandalism. The corporation registers cases of vandalism every day across the country.