By Clarabella Chipolonga-Mana

Deputy Director for Rural Electrification in the Ministry of Energy, Francisco Chingoli has called on community members in Chiradzulu district to jealously guard electricity infrastructure.

He said this in an interview on Friday in Traditional Authority Sandrak in the district after a joint site meeting with traditional leaders, police officers and other stakeholders aimed at ensuring the successful implementation of the Malawi Rural Electrification Programme (Marep) in the area.

“Generally, we came here to touch Base with the community and stakeholders to tackle vandalism which is rampant in this district, and I am glad the meeting was very helpful because major issues have been tackled,” said Chingoli.

He further asked all stakeholders to work together to end the malpractice.

“So, expect that the contractor will do its work and finish without being distracted, we have also explained to them about the new law which says all those found vandalising electricity infrastructure shall be imprisoned for 30 years or else pay MK150 million,” he added.

Chiradzulu Police Station Community Policing Coordinator, Mark Munama pledged to enhance protection of electricity infrastructure in the area.

“We will revamp all community policing structures, and we already deployed our officers including CIDs in all zones to gather intelligence information so that we can arrest all suspects who are connected to theft and vandalism of Marep infrastructure,” Munama said.

Traditional Authority (TA) Sandrak said vandalism of Marep infrastructure is very heartbreaking because it is counterproductive.

“If the electricity is connected here, it means that we will not be walking long distances to access the maize mills. We will therefore conduct massive sensitization meetings with the village heads and later on with all community members so that we can put an end to this malpractice,” said Sandrak.

Four out of ten houses in Malawi have access to electricity.