EWSA warns against increasing sabotage

THE ENERGY, Water and Sanitation Authority (EWSA) has warned the public against vandalising its property, a practice believed to have sabotaged the authority’s efforts to expand its electricity grid countrywide.A survey by EWSA indicates that human-induced rupture of pylon anchors and cutting of electricity cables was on the rise and widespread not just in Kigali but in upcountry districts such as Huye, Ngoma, Ngororero, Nyanza and Musanze.“The actions might seem mild but they cost the population very much. How can an individual break pieces of metal from important infrastructure like electricity pylons which transmit power to thousands of people?” Prosper Mubera Birori, the head of public relations and communication unit at EWSA told The New Times yesterday.“This stolen metal will not even fetch them more than Rwf10,000 but reports show that it is becoming rampant. This action is wrong and EWSA is asking the public to report such actions.”In a related development, two suspects were arrested yesterday by police in connection with stealing electricity cables, an act that is usually performed in the wee hours of the night, according to police.Police caution“This is becoming a big problem and we thank the public that alerted us about the two suspects we are holding,” Theos Badege, (pictured) the police commissioner of public relations and community policing, said yesterday.“Stealing or vandalising public property is a criminal offense and everyone must know that. Besides, it destroys the targets and ambitions of different government agencies.”EWSA also attributed the recent heavy load-shedding in and around Kigali to vandalism which weakened and led to the collapse of two 110KV electricity pylons that transmitted power from the Jabana substation to the main substation in Gikondo.The damage cost EWSA 30 mega watts per hour lost through the electricity lines, and repair works have shot to Rwf20 million.

National

EWSA warns against increasing sabotage