Theft, vandalism worry Lilongwe City Council

MALAWI: Lilongwe City Council (LCC) has expressed concern about an increase in cases of theft and vandalism of public infrastructures such as streetlights, sign posts, and manhole covers, among other things, in some parts of the city.

The interchange and the Kauma sewerage treatment site are two locations where public infrastructure has been vandalized and stolen.

The mayor of Lilongwe, Richard Banda, has expressed concern about the situation.

“People are vandalizing important public infrastructures including informative signposts and solar systems for the streetlights at the interchange, this is a big concern to us as Lilongwe City Council,” Banda said.

He also stated that LCC is investing heavily in rehabilitating infrastructure that has been vandalized and stolen.

As a result, he appealed to the people of Lilongwe to assist the city council in protecting the city's public infrastructure.

“As a city council, we do not have enough capacity can safeguard all public infrastructures in the city, therefore we are calling the public to take part in safeguarding the infrastructures as they are meant to help them,” he said.

He also warned perpetrators of theft and vandalism of public infrastructure in Lilongwe, saying that if they are caught doing the act, the law will take its course.

In a statement, Lilongwe Police Public Relations Officer, Inspector Hastings Chigalu, stated that the police are working tirelessly to combat cases of theft and vandalism in the city of Lilongwe.

“We are doing our best in fighting against cases of theft and vandalism of public infrastructures in Lilongwe city, recently we arrested two people for vandalizing signposts and they were taken to court where they were charged as regards to vandalism and theft,” Chigalu said.

He also urged Lilongwe residents to report anyone they see stealing or vandalizing public infrastructures in the city to the nearest police station.