By Rahim Abdul
Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) Limited has confirmed a tragic incident in Lilongwe City where a man suspected of vandalizing power equipment was fatally electrocuted around midnight on Tuesday, November 11, 2025.
According to a statement from ESCOM, the unidentified individual was allegedly attempting to steal or tamper with high-voltage electrical infrastructure when he was electrocuted on the spot.
The incident caused a power outage that affected the Lilongwe Water Board and parts of Area 3, disrupting essential services in the area.
Authorities say the man’s body remains at the scene as police prepare to conduct investigations and collect the remains.
“This devastating event serves as a grim and immediate reminder of the extreme danger of tampering with high-voltage electricity infrastructure,” reads part of the ESCOM statement.
The corporation has since issued a strong public appeal, warning Malawians against vandalizing or interfering with power installations, emphasizing that such acts not only endanger lives but also disrupt critical services for communities.
“Vandalism is a direct threat to life. Power lines and equipment carry deadly currents. The risk of death or severe injury is not worth it,” ESCOM cautioned.
The company further highlighted that vandalism is a criminal offense under the Electricity Act of 2024, carrying stiff penalties including long prison sentences and heavy fines.
Meanwhile, ESCOM has urged the public to take an active role in protecting national infrastructure by reporting suspicious activity around power lines, transformers or substations to the Malawi Police Service or directly to ESCOM through the anonymous toll-free line 847 on both Airtel and TNM networks.
The incident adds to a worrying rise in cases of infrastructure vandalism across the country, which continues to pose safety risks and lead to costly service disruptions.
