A community member in Thyolo has been credited for helping police bring four transformer vandals to justice after Thyolo Chief Resident Magistrate Court sentenced the men to 18 years in prison each.
Emmanuel Zulu, Raphael Katopola, Steven Elatoni, and Paul Kabudula were convicted of vandalising an Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) transformer valued at MK15.7 million.
The ruling was delivered on Friday, June 26, 2026.
According to court proceedings, the group ambushed on-site security guards, tied them up and restrained them, before systematically dismantling the transformer.
During the attack, they also robbed one guard of his mobile phone and gumboots and the transformer was destroyed beyond repair.
Their escape was cut short when a community member spotted them fleeing with mangled parts of the transformer and immediately raised an alarm.
Local Community Policing Members responded swiftly, apprehended the suspects, and handed them over to police.
Welcoming the sentence, ESCOM Chief Public Relations and Communications Officer Pilirani Phiri said the judgment reflects the corporation’s zero-tolerance stance on destruction of public infrastructure.
“We commend the Court for the firm sentence. Eighteen years is a significant term, and it reflects just how seriously the law treats those who destroy electricity infrastructure. Our hope is that this deters others,” Phiri said.
Phiri added that the impact of such crimes extends beyond financial losses for ESCOM and that when a transformer is destroyed, schools are forced to close early, hospitals cannot operate equipment, businesses lose stock, and homes are left without power.
The 18-year jail term comes under Malawi’s toughened Electricity (Amendment) Act of 2024, which increased the maximum penalty for vandalism and possession of stolen electricity infrastructure to 30 years.
