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ZESCO has issued a stern warning to illegal scrap metal dealers, cautioning that they face up to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour for their role in the vandalism of power infrastructure.
ZESCO Senior Manager for Special Duties and Investigations, Ben Mwanamakwa, said the utility has intensified its crackdown on the illegal scrap metal trade, which has been identified as a key driver of infrastructure theft.
He noted that recent operations had already resulted in several significant arrests.
In a statement released on Monday, Mwanamakwa revealed that in Lusaka’s George Compound, 41-year-old John Tembo, an unlicensed scrap dealer, was detained for operating without a register and for handling suspicious materials.
“This arrest highlights how illegal scrap networks fuel vandalism by providing markets for stolen cables and transformers,” Mwanamakwa said.
In Solwezi, three suspects—Jackson Museli, Darlington Chifita, and Peter Kalota—were apprehended in possession of stolen service cables intended for illegal scrap yards.
Meanwhile, in Southern Province, a security guard identified as Winston Chulu received a six-month suspended sentence for diesel theft, underscoring that even minor infractions can lead to legal consequences.
In Central Province, two suspects—Charoid Nduliba and Patrick Mubita—were arrested with K8,784 worth of stolen cables and tools, linking them to a broader scrap metal network.
On the Copperbelt, ZESCO patrols disrupted another operation in Chililabombwe. Although the suspect escaped, key evidence—including a hacksaw and a mobile phone—was recovered at the scene.
Read More: ZESCO reports K1.5 million loss from vandalism, theft
Mwanamakwa emphasized that Zambia’s laws now prescribed harsher penalties for infrastructure vandalism, with offenders facing up to 25 years imprisonment.
Scrap dealers caught trafficking stolen materials risk additional charges, revocation of licenses, and permanent closure of their businesses.
“Our message is clear,” Mwanamakwa said. “Those profiting from vandalism will be relentlessly pursued. The courts are applying stricter sentencing—as seen in Chulu’s case—signaling an end to leniency.”
In a positive turn, Mwanamakwa commended Ndola residents for aiding in the recovery of a K7,658 cable by alerting ZESCO patrols, calling it a model example of community partnership.
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