Escom busts over 128 illegal connections in LL

 Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) has this week busted over 128 illegal connections in markets, churches and residential houses within four locations of the capital city.

The power utility and the Malawi Police Service launched an anti-illegal connections operation in Nsungwi, Mgona, Ngomani and Area 50 from Monday to Friday.

Escom regional manager (Centre) Macvittie Chiphwanya said the sample operation

 uncovered over 128 illegal connections costing the company over K30 million per year.

“We did not visit every place but just sampled some places and found this huge loss, what if we were to go place by place and evaluate the loss from all illegal connections? It means we are losing a lot from this practice,” he said.

Chiphwanya said the operation was launched after the police and the health personnel complained about

 two deaths within the month at Ngomani due to illegal connections.

“Yes, we have realised that we are losing a lot of revenue. But our primary objective was to save people’s lives, because these illegal connections are a deathtrap,” said Chiphwanya.

During the operation, Escom engineers cut supply from all affected premises and opened cases with the owners.

Enock Phiri, manager of busted Miseza Housing office at Nsungwi and Pastor Canaan Phiri of busted Nsungwi Seventh Day Baptist, blamed Escom for the malpractice.

Phiri claimed that all shops within their complex were legally connected, but Escom disconnected them to allow for the smooth construction of Area 49- Nsungwi – Dzenza Road. However, when the road was completed two years ago, Escom never came to reconnect them.

“We have been going to their offices to ask them to reconnect our shops because we were losing business but our efforts landed on deaf ears that’s why we connected on our own,” he said.

While Pastor Phiri said the problem is poor town planning, which has led people to erect illegal buildings that they know Escom cannot connect them; hence, they choose illegal connections.

“I can take you around and you will be shocked to see buildings standing under electricity transformers and lines, which is illegal. So, you expect such people to apply for legal connections?” he asked.

On his part, Chiphwanya said the issue of town planning is not Escom’s responsibility but verifying the wiring in buildings and carrying out connections.

He said people who have applied for connections should not panic because Escom has a project which will clear the backlog.

Kanengo Police public relations officer Grecium Ngwira said illegal connection is a crime under Police Act and the Penal Code