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06 Mar 2023

Botswana Power Corporation (BPC) in Maun has been hit by a wave of electric cable theft, says the Corporation’s official, Mr Letsogile Ledimo.

Mr Ledimo said during a kgotla meeting in Maun on Friday that the rampant stealing of electric cables was worsened by the availability of the cable market.

He said from the beginning of the year to date, the corporation had already lost half a million in replacing stolen cables. 

He thus appealed to members of the community to join hands with the corporation to curb the mindless act of vandalism.

“Maun has become a hub for criminal activities, especially stealing of power cables and this year, the corporation has already lost millions to replace stolen cables and I urge you to play an active role in solving the problem,” he pleaded.

He stated that the P4 million that had been channelled towards purchasing new cables could have been used to undertake other projects aimed at improving power supply in other areas.

Members of the community, he said should bear in mind that power connectivity paved way for economic opportunities, hence they should shun such vices.

In addition, he reminded all and sundry that the corporation supplied big institutions such as hospitals with power and if such institutions experienced power cuts, patients’ lives would be compromised.

Residents were equally concerned with the growing theft of electric cables and relayed they too bore the brunt of the mindless acts at their homes.

Kgosi Moeti Moeti concurred that it seemed the perpetrators had a readily available market. 

He wished all people in the cable business could be licensed for traceability purposes; something he believed would put the matter to rest.

He said perpetrators did not only steal electricity cables, but also helped themselves to water pipes. ENDs