By Chisomo Phiri
The Senior Resident Magistrate court in Lilongwe has on Tuesday convicted three men for vandalising four 1,200 meter-long high voltage power lines, valued at K22.2 million, belonging to the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM).
The three are Michael Kambalame, 26,Umali Rashid, 35,and Chikafa Dzuwa,41, all from Area 36, Chinsapo.
Police say the convicts told the law enforcers that they were using the wires to make welding machines.
Lilongwe Police Prosecutor Sub Inspector Vincent Ntalawe told the court that the convicts were apprehended by Dzalanyama Forest Reserve rangers in the wee hours on August 16, 2023 while on their motorcycles, carrying rolls of the wire.
The prosecutor further told the court that the police impounded three motorcycles that were used in the transportation of the wires.
“In court, the convicts pleaded guilty to the charge of Vandalism of Escom apparatus according to section 45, as read with section 46 of the Electricity Act,” Chigalu says.
The convicts are expected to return to court on August 25, 2023 for sentencing by Senior Resident Magistrate Shukran Kumbani.
