A suspected vandal met a tragic end in Lilongwe on Tuesday night after being electrocuted while allegedly trying to steal or tamper with the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) infrastructure. This act caused a temporary power outage affecting Lilongwe Water Board and parts of Area 3.
According to a statement released on Wednesday, ESCOM Limited confirmed the tragic event, describing it as a “grim reminder” of the deadly risks associated with tampering with live power equipment.
The state-run power utility said the incident occurred around midnight, and the man died instantly at the scene.
“The individual was electrocuted while suspected of attempting to steal or vandalize our electrical infrastructure. This unfortunate incident led to power disruptions in parts of Lilongwe,” ESCOM said in its statement.
Authorities are awaiting police to collect the body from the site, while investigations into the matter are ongoing.
The power utility has since issued a strong warning to the public against vandalizing electricity installations, emphasizing that tampering with power lines can lead to fatal electrocution and disrupt essential services, including hospitals, homes, and water supply systems.
ESCOM has cautioned the public that, Vandalism is a direct threat to life. Power lines and equipment carry deadly currents.
The risk of death or severe injury is not worth itThe company also reminded the public that vandalism is a serious criminal offense under the Electricity Act of 2024, carrying heavy fines and long prison sentences upon conviction.
Beyond the human cost, ESCOM noted that acts of vandalism cause unnecessary blackouts that hinder national development and compromise public safety.
In its appeal, the power supplier urged citizens to take an active role in safeguarding critical infrastructure and to report any suspicious activities near power installations.
Members of the public can report incidents anonymously through ESCOM’s toll-free line 847 (on both Airtel and TNM) or to the nearest Malawi Police Service station.
“Please help us protect these critical installations and, more importantly, save lives,” ESCOM said.
The tragic event adds to a growing number of electricity-related fatalities in Malawi linked to vandalism and illegal power connections, a trend authorities continue to condemn as both dangerous and unlawful.
