By Patience Longwe.

Lilongwe,15 November Mana; Police in Lilongwe have arrested six people on suspicion that they were behind the vandalism of 16 transformers in several locations of the capital city between July and November 2024.

In an interview with Malawi News Agency (Mana) on Friday, Lilongwe Police spokesperson Hastings Chigalu, confirmed about the arrests of Manuel Banda, Mustafa Wisdom Machemba, Chikumbutso Lameck, Jawadu Buleya, Yamikani Thambo, Yamani 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 operation at their houses.

"During interrogation, apart from the latest incident, the suspect 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 Magistrates 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.

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

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

ECOM 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 K 4 billion in the last two years due to cases of vandalism of its infrastructure. This figure includes transmission and distribution infrastructure, replacement cost and revenue lost.