Increased cases of impersonators worry Escom
Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) has expressed concerned over increased cases of conmen tarnishing its image by duping unsuspecting prospective customers.
The remarks by Escom’s public relations manager Innocent Chitosi come after police in Mzuzu have arrested an electrician based in the city for defrauding a businessman of K1.3 million while pretending that he was an Escom employee.
The man identified as Howard Mvula, 30, cheated the businessman that he would connect the businessman’s two maize mills to a power grid.
According to information from the police, Mvula introduced himself to the businessman as Zilala Chimaliro, a planning officer at Escom in Mzuzu.
Mvula used fake power supply application forms and payment receipts to convince Chimaliro who claims to have paid Mvula K650 000 in two installments of K340 000 and later K310, 000 and was given the fake receipts dated June 21 and 22, 2018, respectively, for his maize mill at Chafisi in Mzimba.
Chimaliro further alleged that he also paid Mvula another K650 000 for his maize mill at Sonda in Mzuzu City before paying K50, 000 for electrical materials and installation of a line to his premises.
Chitosi has since appealed to members of the general public to ensure that they pay for any Escom service at designated counters at their premises and not to people they meet around Escom offices.
Meanwhile, Mvula has named two accomplices who are still on the run.
He comes from Chiputa Village, in Traditional Authority (T/A) Mzukuzuku in Mzimba.
