Zambia: Man Jailed Three Months For Trespassing At ZESCO Substation

A magistrate court in Chingola has sentenced a 30-year-old man, Samuel Chungu, from the Mikiloni area of Zambia, to three months’ imprisonment with hard labour after he was found guilty of trespassing at a ZESCO substation.

He pleaded guilty to criminal trespass, contrary to Section 306(a) of the Penal Code, Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia, and was consequently convicted on his own plea.

According to a statement issued by ZESCO Limited, on March 10, 2026, ZESCO security personnel and Zambia Police officers were conducting a night patrol in the Mwaiseni Industrial Area when they discovered a freshly dug trench suspected to be linked to an attempted theft of underground armoured cables.

During an inspection of Substation No. 28, officers found Chungu hiding at the site.

The suspect attempted to flee but was apprehended. A shovel, hacksaw, and pick were recovered from the area where he had been hiding.

Chungu appeared before the Chingola Magistrate Court on June 10, 2026, and pleaded guilty. On June 17, 2026, he was convicted and sentenced to three months’ imprisonment with hard labour, effective from the date of conviction.

Meanwhile, ZESCO recorded 37 security-related cases involving vandalism, theft, fraud, corruption, fraudulent appropriation of power, and abuse of corporation motor vehicles during the week of June 12 to June 19, 2026.

The reported cases resulted in estimated property losses valued at K1,647,905, while recoveries amounting to K1,259,900 were made, leaving a net loss of K388,004. This compares with the week of June 5 to June 12, which recorded 20 cases and a net loss of K344,029.

ZESCO commended members of the public for providing timely information that continues to support the recovery of stolen property and the protection of electricity infrastructure.

The utility company urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities around electricity infrastructure to ZESCO, the Zambia Police Service, or other local security authorities.