MANSA Deputy Mayor has cautioned residents of Luapula Province to stop protecting vandals who are damaging ZESCO infrastructure, saying the destruction of power lines and transformers is one of the biggest reasons the province continues to struggle with unstable and insufficient electricity.
Speaking during a stakeholder engagement meeting with ZESCO’s top leadership, Kalumba said the province cannot continue losing vital electricity equipment to criminals while expecting development to move forward.
“Do not harbor criminals… these are not ZESCO assets alone, they are our national inheritance,” Kalumba said.
He said vandalism has silently slowed down progress for years because damaged power lines and stolen components delay projects and force ZESCO to spend money on repairs instead of expanding the grid.
Kalumba explained that the community must understand that ZESCO’s infrastructure is not private property, but a national resource meant to benefit every household and future generation.
The deputy mayor said the fight against vandalism cannot be left to ZESCO and the police alone because the criminals often live within the same communities where the crimes occur.
Between July 2021 and July 2025 alone, ZESCO lost K130 million, about $5 million, to vandalism and theft of infrastructure, money which could have been used to expand electricity access in places like Luapula.
Meanwhile, ZESCO’s Mansa 50 megawatts solar project, is expected to be completed this December 2025.
By George Musonda
Kalemba November 23, 2025
