Minister of Energy Ibrahim Matola says all perpetrators involved in cases of vandalism will face the law as he describes the act of vandalising ESCOM equipment such as generators and cables as equal to economic subotage.

Matola’s concern comes following a statement from ESCOM complaining about continued increase in cases of theft and vandalism of transformers across the country.

ESCOM said they are losing an average of five transformers every week due to such vice, leading to loss of revenue for ESCOM, the public and cropping of their service delivery to establishments such as health and education facilities, businesses as well as households.

Matola said lack of power supply to hospitals is affecting people on life support machines, water boards cannot supply water as required and small businesses such as maize mill, cannot run properly.

“ESCOM has borrowed 150 transformers from MAREP to cover for the deficit and 250 trading centres ( almost 1 million People) do not have power supply as a result of vandalism,” Matola said.

According to ESCOM, they have heightened their security mechanism, including continuations of community sensitisation campaign to create awareness on the impact of vandalism and theft to service delivery and how that puts the lives of the perpetrators and the public at risk.

“It is a serious offence, punishable by law, to tamper with ESCOM assets as such malpractices contravene the Electoral Act.