Lilongwe Water Board bust illegal water connection syndicate

Lilongwe Water Board has bust a syndicate of illegal water connections in the city that has cost the board close to K12 million, according to officials.

Spokesperson for the board Bright Sonani said 17 people were involved in the illegal connections to wealthy residents who would have afforded to pay the water bills.

“The house to house survey and meter validation exercise we are currently conducting has exposed this fraudulent activity,” he said.

He said the illegal water connectors were manipulating the system and warned the culprits will have to pay K2 million for the illegal water consumption and a fine of K250, 000 before the water is restored legally to their residences.

Sonani said the house to house survey and meter validation exercise continues and asks those who illegally connected water to come forward and surrender before they are caught.

There are a lot of illegal water and electricity connections in the cities of Blantyre, Lilongwe and Mzuzu denying the boards and Escom the much needed revenue for the improvement of their services.