Habitual offender Ephraim Chipojola
* Sentenced back to prison for seven years from where he had just been pardoned for his 2024 crime
Maravi Express
Ex-convict, Ephraim Chipojola, 32, has been convicted by Mangochi First Grade Magistrate’s Court to seven years imprisonment with hard labour for vandalising and stealing Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) cables in Mpondasi.
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Mangochi Police Station public relations officer, lnspector Amina Tepani Daudi reports that police prosecutor, Inspector Ted Namaona told the court that Chipojola had recently been released from prison after being pardon where he was serving a four-year jail term for a similar offence he committed in 2024.
“The court further heard that on September 13, 2026, at around 02h00, Chipojola was caught red-handed by a security guard while digging and removing copper wires from an ESCOM transformer at Mpondasi.
“Upon searching his bag, four pieces of copper wire believed to have been removed from ESCOM infrastructure were found. He was subsequently handed over to Mangochi Police Station.”
Inspector Daudi further reports that Chipojola pleaded guilty to the offence and asked for leniency, citing family obligations but Inspector Namaona urged the court to impose a custodial sentence.
Namaona arguing in court that “ESCOM spends significant resources repairing and replacing vandalised infrastructure, thereby diverting funds that could otherwise be used to improve electricity services”.
“Namaona further told the court that Chipojola’s repeated involvement in similar offences demonstrated a failure to reform and that his conduct could not be tolerated in society.
“In his ruling, First Grade Magistrate Roy Kakutu concurred with the State, observing that the vandalism and theft of ESCOM cables disrupts electricity supply to homes, businesses and other institutions.
“Kakutu subsequently sentenced Chipojola to seven years imprisonment with hard labour, saying the sentence would serve as a deterrent to would-be offenders.”
Chipojola hails from Kazembe Village, Traditional Authority Mkanda in Mulanje District.
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