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The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) Limiteds Dowa office team recently 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.
Electricity vandal nabbed in Malawi
Police in Mangochi have arrested 40-year-old Joseph Simeon for allegedly vandalising ESCOM and Southern Region Water Board (SRWB) properties in the lakeshore district.
Mangochi Police spokesperson, Amina Daudi, said the law enforcers have been receiving reports from ESCOM of incidents of unknown criminals vandalising transformers in the district.
During this period, several transformers in locations such as Namiyasi, Mosiya, Mgundaphiri, Kalonga and Mpondasi were tampered with, resulting in the theft of cables and fuses," she said.
Daudi said community members, especially those who had vacated and abandoned their houses due to flash floods within the township, had also been complaining about break-ins and theft of water board meters, rim locks, water pipes and sinks.
Daudi said the taxi operator implicated Simeon as being the one who sent him to deliver the items to a minibus driver who intended to transport them to Blantyre. The police eventually arrested him on the same night at his house.
ESCOM and SRWB officials have since identified some of the stolen items. The suspect, who hails originally from the Kabvumbwe Village in Dedza, will appear in court to face charges of burglary and theft. |
