Police in Balaka District arrested two ESCOM employees and several others on Thursday, August 22 2024 for vandalizing ESCOM property.
Balaka Police Station spokesperson Gladson M’bumpha said the arrests follow an investigation into incidents of vandalism that occurred on the nights of August 8-9 and August 18-19, 2024, at Govati Village and Phombeya Substation within Phalula.
“The suspects apprehended include Rodgers Mkwanda, 25 and Stanford Chabwera, 30 who are ESCOM security guards stationed at ESCOM’s Substation in Phombeya,” he said.
M’bumpha said Mkwanda and Chabwera were found with ESCOM conductors at their residents and will face charges of theft by a servant.
M’bumpha said the police also arrested Christopher Kababe, 23, and Ephron Mtambalika, 27, both from Phalura in Balaka, for vandalism.
“They were caught stealing quarry stones at the 132 KV tower, and were found with a wheelbarrow loaded with stones, a shovel, and an empty 40-litre bucket,” he said.
M’bumpha said another suspect, Binton Banda, a 40-year-old resident of Phalura in Balaka has been charged with receiving stolen property. Banda was discovered in possession of an antique firearm, as well as several stolen ESCOM items including 4 pick heads, angle irons, staylods, wire coils, and nails.
M’mbumpha said the total estimated value of the vandalized property is MK7,647,000.00.
Recently, the President of the Republic Of Malawi, Dr Lazarus McCarthy Chakwera asserted to Electricity Amendment Act 2024, which among others, stipulates stiffer punishments for people involved in vandalism.
Among others, the new law stipulates a maximum of 25 years imprisonment with hand labour and K150m fine for former or current ESCOM employees, and 30 years imprisonment and K100m fine for any person involved in vandalism and theft of electricity equipment.
