BLANTYRE-(MaraviPost)-A man is battling for his life after being electrocuted in the early hours of Wednesday at Chichiri in Blantyre, in what authorities suspect was an attempt to tamper with high-voltage ESCOM electrical equipment.
According to the Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM), the incident occurred at one of its installations where the unidentified man allegedly gained unauthorized access before coming into direct contact with live power components.
ESCOM officials say the victim sustained serious injuries and was immediately secured at the scene as arrangements were made for law-enforcement intervention.
Police later arrived to take over the case, while the man received emergency medical attention due to the severity of his condition.
Confirming the development, ESCOM’s Chief Public Relations and Communications Officer, Pilirani Phiri, described the incident as both tragic and preventable, stressing that the corporation has repeatedly warned the public about the fatal risks associated with tampering or vandalizing electrical infrastructure.
“This tragic incident is not just a reminder but a serious warning to the public on safety,” Phiri said.
“Electricity lines and equipment carry voltages that are lethal, and only trained, authorized personnel must ever approach them.
“We must stress that vandalism is dangerous; it endangers lives, leads to severe injury, and compromises the national power supply,”Phiri added.
Phiri added that such acts of interference not only put individuals at immediate risk but also threaten the stability of the country’s power system, affecting households, businesses and essential services.
ESCOM has since renewed its appeal for public cooperation in safeguarding national electricity assets, noting that transformers, transmission lines, substations and other technical structures must always be treated as hazardous zones.
The utility company also urged communities to remain vigilant and promptly report suspicious movements or attempts to tamper with installations, saying timely reporting can help prevent disasters and protect the integrity of the grid.
Authorities are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, while warning that cases of vandalism continue to present serious challenges to power reliability across the country.