* Beyond the loss of infrastructure valued at MK961,855, the thefts also resulted in significant losses of treated water
* BWB thus is appealing to customers to take responsibility in the protection of their water meters
By Duncan Mlanjira
A suspect, Aaron Chinao has arrested over vandalism of water meters of 13 households in Machinjiri, Blantyre on the night of October 16, 2026.
The suspect Aaron Chinao
On its official Facebook account, Blantyre Water Board reports that residents of Areas 2 and 3 in Machinjiri woke up to a rude awakening to discover that fittings on their water meters had been stolen.
The equipment, valued at MK961,855, included stopcocks, gate valves, meter tails, nipples, elbows, bends and a tee.
BWB reports that the 30-year-old suspect, Chinao intended to sell the stolen items at an unregulated hardware shop in Ndirande Township.
The report adds that the suspect was discovered by seven vigilant members of the Community Policing Forum, who swiftly intervened by pursuing the vandal.
He was successfully apprehended and was handed him over to South Lunzu Police Station.
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“Upon receiving information that a suspect had been arrested in possession of suspected stolen BWB water fittings, BWB security officer, Pilirani Chikoko, immediately proceeded to the police station to assist with investigations.
“This marked the beginning of a day-long operation involving five armed police officers and BWB security personnel, who visited all 13 affected households across different parts of Machinjiri.
“Police also recorded statements from each victim, while the suspect reportedly confessed to the thefts,” says the BWB Media, adding that case is expected to proceed to court once police complete compiling the necessary documentation.
Beyond the loss of infrastructure, BWB indicates that the vandalism “also resulted in significant losses of treated water that could have have put to good use whilst generating revenue for the Board’s operational efficiency and its ability to serve customers sustainably”.
BWB is thus appealing to customers to take responsibility in the protection of water meters within their premises.
BWB repeatedly implores on the public to be vigilant and to report cases of suspected vandalism of its infrastructure, which is rampant and costs the Board millions of kwacha to replace.
Maintenance works when main pipeline from Walkers Ferry was vandalised, whose repairs are very costly
Just last month, BWB’s main transmission pipeline from Walkers Ferry Pumping Station was vandalised twice rendering the city’s taps dry for a few days.
After the two incidents, Limbe Police confiscated a truck carrying 40-foot shipping container of scrap metals, which included BWB water meter fittings destined for India.
The container was intercepted while being loaded with scrap metals by a scrap metal dealer in Limbe — which was a major breakthrough in the fight against vandalism.
The water meter fittings discovered in the shipping container
BWB recovered close to 2,000 water fittings and identified numerous components of its postpaid and prepaid water meters that had been crushed and reduced to scrap metal.
The meters and various water network fittings had been packed in sacks and concealed within the consignment.
The discovery of the huge consignment of BWB infrastructure in that container — along with the recent incident in Machinjiri to be sold at unregulated scrap dealers — provide further evidence of the extent to which valuable public water infrastructure is being destroyed for illegal commercial gain.
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