The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) is appealing to the public to be vigilant and protect the electricity infrastructure from vandals.
Addressing the media, ESCOM Public Relations Officer, Pilirani Phiri, said the corporation is losing 3 billion kwacha annually to vandalism, money that could be used to expand electricity access to more Malawians. Instead, the corporation is forced to spend it on repairing and replacing damaged infrastructure.
“Every year, ESCOM spends about 3 billion kwacha as direct costs due to vandalism. This is the kind of money and resources that would be used to expand electricity access, but instead, we are using it to replace what vandals have destroyed.” Phiri said.
Phiri emphasized that the vandalism of ESCOM infrastructure not only strains the corporation’s resources but also leads to power outages that negatively impact hospitals, businesses, and the general public.
“As a country, we are moving in cycles but the ownership is with the communities, the public, to ensure that they are vigilant to guard against suspected vandals who destroy and steal the infrastructure of ESCOM as a result causing electricity outages that affect life in hospitals, businesses,” Phiri stressed.
ESCOM is appealing to the public to be vigilant and report any suspected vandals, emphasizing that protecting the corporation’s infrastructure is a collective responsibility.
“Let’s be the eyes and ears of ESCOM,” he said.
