ZESCO’s Property Losses Reduce to K846, 000 From K1.1 million
ZESCO Limited says property losses due to vandalism and related crimes fell to K846,709 in the past week.
Company Spokesperson Matongo Maumbi revealed that this represents a decline from the staggering over K1.1 million recorded in the previous week.
Mr. Maumbi also disclosed that the Corporation recovered property worth K583, 992 due to its continued effort in the fight against vandalism.
“ZESCO Limited continued its relentless fight against vandalism and related crimes during the past week, achieving notable successes despite ongoing challenges.”
“Property worth K583,992 was recovered, while losses due to reported crimes fell to K846,709, marking a decrease from the staggering K1,102,643 recorded the previous week. This week, 64 cases were reported, with 55 linked to vandalism, representing a slight but promising 3% decline from the 57 cases logged the week before. Other criminal activities accounted for nine additional cases,” Mr. Maumbi disclosed.
Meanwhile, Mr. Maumbi revealed that during the week under review, ZESCO recorded 11 arrests and secured two key convictions.
“One of these convictions involved Oliver Musonda, a 19-year-old from Chipulukusu Compound in Ndola, who pled guilty to theft after being caught stealing copper cables from Ndola Lime Limited.”
“The theft, which took place on October 29, 2024, involved a 3-core armored copper cable valued at K11,537.20. Quick police action led to Musonda’s arrest at the scene, and he was sentenced to three years in prison with hard labour,” he explained.
He added that in another development, 27-year-old Patrick Mukuka, of Kantashi Township in Mufulira, was sentenced to five years imprisonment for malicious damage to property.
“Mukuka was arrested following an incident in which he tampered with a Ground Mounted Transformer (GMT), causing damages valued at K11,327.78.”
“Evidence, including tools and materials linking him to the crime, was recovered during the investigation,” he said.
He further revealed that on November 14, 2024, a suspected cable thief lost his life at Soweto Market in Lusaka.
Mr. Maumbi identified the deceased as Albert Chipinde, aged between 20 and 25, who was electrocuted while attempting to steal a ZESCO service cable. “His tragic death underscores the potentially fatal consequences of tampering with live electrical equipment,” Mr. Maumbi asserted.
