The Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) has recorded 138 cases of vandalism to its infrastructure between October 2025 and March 2026 and is appealing to Malawians to help protect transformers and other critical assets.
ESCOM Publicist Pilirani Phiri said escalating attacks on infrastructure are undermining progress in stabilizing the power supply.
He noted that in April 2026 alone, five transformers were vandalized.
“The frequency of vandalism cases that we are recording here at ESCOM is getting out of hand,” Phiri said.
Phiri said ESCOM is calling on communities, traditional leaders, and business leaders to help protect public infrastructure.
“As ESCOM we continue to appeal to all Malawians of goodwill to step in and join ESCOM in the fight against vandalism, those transformers, much as they are operated by ESCOM, are meant for the public. They serve the communities,” he said.
He stressed that community ownership is crucial to stopping the attacks and protecting transformers is essential to maintaining a stable electricity supply and avoiding disruptions that affect households, schools, and businesses.
“Community ownership is crucial in the fight against vandalism. We therefore today make this emotional appeal to you to step in and help ESCOM to protect its infrastructure, especially the transformers,” he said.
