ELECTRICITY SUPPLY CORPORATION OF MALAWI LIMITED (ESCOM)

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Six netted over vandalism of 16 transformers in Lilongwe

Six people have been arrested in Lilongwe on suspicion that they were behind the vandalism of 16 transformers in several locations of the capital city between July and November 2024.

Lilongwe Police Station spokesperson, Hastings Chigalu, confirmed the arrest of Manuel Banda, Mustafa Wisdom Machemba, Chikumbutso Lameck, Jawadu Buleya, Yamikani Thambo and Yamikani Batani between November 7 and 11, 2024.

Chigalu said Area 36 police, in collaboration with the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) Limited security team, arrested the suspects in a joint raid of their houses.

“During interrogation, apart from the latest incident, the suspects further revealed to have also vandalized Escom transformers and stole property at Nkhoma CCAP Mission in July, Kamphata Trading Centre in August, Mlale Mission in Mitundu, Dzaleka in Dowa and Kunthembwe in Ntchisi, all in October this year,” he said.

The suspects appeared before the Lilongwe First Grade Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, to answer a vandalism charge. The offence attracts a 30-year jail term with no option of paying a fine, according to Section 45(4)(b) of the Electricity Amendment Act of 2024.

Lilongwe First Grade Magistrate, Imran Phiri, ordered that the suspects be remanded at Maula Prison for 10 days pending the conclusion of investigations, including a transformer vandalism case of Mlale in Mitundu on November 6, 2024.

Banda hails originally from Kasichi Village, Traditional Authority (T/A) Chulu in Kasungu District, Thambo (Chikwasa Village, T/A Sawali, Balaka), Buleya (Bulika Village, T/A Sitola, Machinga), Lameck (Namale Village, T/A Mthiramanja, Mulanje), Machemba, Matozo Village, T/A Mthiramanja, Mulanje) and Batani (Chikwasa Village, T/A Sawali, Balaka).

ESCOM Chief Public Relations Officer, Kitty Chingota, has since condemned the continued vandalism of the corporation’s infrastructure, saying such vices affect service delivery, put lives at risk, and deprive the company of revenue needed to connect more customers.

The power utility company has lost over K4 billion in the last two years due to cases of vandalism of its infrastructure. This figure includes Transmission and Distribution infrastructure replacement costs and revenue lost.

Report cases of vandalism to the nearest police station or by calling toll-free numbers 847 for TNM/Airtel and 80000847 for MTL.

Image: Chigalu

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