ZESCO reports K1.5 million loss from vandalism, theft

ZESCO has reported losses amounting to K1,566,815.87 due to vandalism and theft, representing a 26 percent reduction from the previous figure of K2,126,176.15.

The power utility also recovered stolen property valued at K715,336.10 during the last week of April.

ZESCO Senior Manager for Special Duties and Investigations, Ben Mwanamakwa, attributed the decline in losses to heightened public vigilance and collaborative efforts with the Zambia Police Service, communities, and other stakeholders.

In a statement issued in Lusaka on Thursday, Mwanamakwa said 40 suspects had been apprehended in connection with 69 criminal cases, including 59 vandalism incidents.

He praised the active role played by communities and law enforcement, citing a recent case in Chingola’s Kapisha Compound, Copperbelt Province, where residents responded to suspicious rooftop noises and foiled a cable theft attempt.

“Alert community members are proving crucial in the fight against infrastructure vandalism. The suspect fled, abandoning 13 pieces of duplex cables valued at K2,563, along with a backpack and gumboots,” Mwanamakwa said.

He noted that the quick community response helped avert a potential power disruption and safeguarded public assets.

Mwanamakwa commended both the police and the judiciary for their swift interventions, citing another example in Mufulira where a community tip-off led to the arrest of five suspects caught burning stolen cables.

“The 40 arrests this week prove that collective action works. Next is to ensure that justice is served. Public cooperation remains our greatest asset,” he added.

Mwanamakwa stressed that every act of vandalism undermined Zambia’s development and called on citizens to remain alert and report any suspicious activity related to power infrastructure.

He assured the public that ZESCO would reward confidential informants whose reports lead to arrests or recoveries, with all information handled discreetly.

He reaffirmed ZESCO’s commitment to working with all stakeholders to protect national infrastructure, emphasizing that public reporting contributes directly to the country’s stability and growth.

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