By IREEN MULENGA
Zesco has revealed that the power utility company has lost K1, 966, 753, 56 to vandalism in the third quarter of 2021.
Zesco Public Relations Manager Hazel Zulu also said the company recorded a reduction in the number of vandalism cases from 276 in the second quarter to 194 to the third quarter of 2021.
Ms Zulu said vandalism remains a major threat to the company’s installations, and they have continued lose money.
Ms Zulu said the decrease can be attributed to heightened surveillance patrols and stakeholder sensitization efforts being undertaken by Zesco especially in vandalism prone areas around the country.
She said the drop can also be attributed to proactive community involvement whereby more members of the public are now reporting suspects to either the Zambia Police or to Zesco offices.
“The most vandalized items were overhead and underground service cables (copper cables), with Lusaka division recording the highest number of incidences with 58 cases, followed by Southern division with 49 cases, Northern division with 48 cases while Copper belt division recorded 33 cases.
“We are encouraged by the decrease in the number of vandalism cases because it validates the interventions and initiatives that we have put in place to help curb the vice and bring it to a complete halt,” she said.
Ms Zulu said that the Zesco remain committed to ensuring that they make it easy for people to live a better life as they continue to work vigorously to bring these vile acts to a halt.
She has called on the public to join the fight against vandalism and report any such acts to the police to ensure that the institution continues to provide sufficient and quality electricity to all citizens.
