Lilongwe City Council has bemoaned the theft of solar-powered street lights in the city, saying the situation is creating safety concerns.
The council’s director of engineering services Julius Tsogolani said this on Tuesday in Lilongwe during a stakeholders meeting on safeguarding the city’s road infrastructure.
I Foster Benjamin.
He said 447 solar panels have been stolen in some of the city’s roads, including the newly upgraded six-lane Saulos Klaus Chilima Highway, Arthur Peter Mutharika Traffic Interchange in Area 18, Chitukuko-Cherub-Bwandilo in Area 47 and Salima Turn-off.
Said Tsogolani: “The vandalism will cost us millions of kwachas because it takes about K1.4 million to replace the stolen pole and its light. Yes, we do some patrols to catch these vandals, but have little impact; hence, our coming together [with stakeholders] to find the way forward in improving security of our infrastructure.”
Central West Region Police Deputy Commissioner Vallie Felix Phiri emphasised the law enforcers’ commitment to securing the city’s streets.
“We have created zones in which our officers will be assigned just to protect the street lights. We have also increased visibility of both our uniform and civilian officers to enhance public safety,” he said.
Central West Region Police Community Policing Executive Committee chairperson Alex Chapondera decried a working relationship gap between Lilongwe City Council and the community.
“We feel there was a gap between the council’s secretariat and the community because the council could just choose to do things on its own without involving the community,” he said
Some of the vandalised street light pole.
