Vandals, thieves switch off cities

Street lights in parts of Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Zomba are failing, leaving some roads and public spaces in darkness because of theft, vehicle damage, ageing batteries and inadequate maintenance.

City officials warn that the dark streets expose motorists, pedestrians and property to security risks while undermining the appearance and functionality of the cities.

In Lilongwe, some solar-powered street lights at the Area 18 Interchange are no longer working, leaving parts of the busy interchange mostly dark.

The Information Platform for Public Infrastructure in Malawi lists the project as completed under contract reference LCC/STRLIGHT/002/IPDC/03/21, at a cost of K97 689 606.

Lilongwe City Council director of engineering Julius Tsogolani said the project was completed and handed over to the council on March 31 2022.

Poles without lights at the Area 18 Interchange in

Lilongwe. | Ntchindi Meki

Kaponda Rets and Electrical Company and GY Imports and Exports installed 134 poles and 150 all-in-one solar street lights, he said.

“All funds—K97 689 606—for the contract were paid to the contractor after completion of the work,” Tsogolani said in response to our questionnaire.

He said the council’s engineering department inspected and certified the project before handover.

But four years later, some of the lights are no longer there.

“Lights were stolen; the remaining ones are all working,” Tsogolani said.

He said the loss of lighting exposes road users to risks such as mugging and diminishes the city’s appearance at night.

The council’s engineering department is responsible for repairs and maintenance, with replacement of the stolen lights planned for the financial year ending March 2027.

Tsogolani, however, did not disclose how many lights had been stolen or the estimated cost of replacing them.

Wider theft in Lilongwe

The Area 18 interchange is part of a wider pattern of theft and vandalism affecting Lilongwe’s street-lighting infrastructure.

In August 2025, the council reported that 447 solar panels had been stolen from roads including the Saulos Klaus Chilima Highway, Arthur Peter Mutharika Traffic Interchange in Area 18, Chitukuko-Cherub-Bwandilo in Area 47 and the Salima Turn-off.

Tsogolani said replacing a stolen pole and light cost about K1.4 million, meaning widespread vandalism could impose a substantial financial burden on the council.

The council had also created zones where officers would be assigned to protect street lights, but Tsogolani said the patrols had had little impact.

Central West Region Police Deputy Commissioner Vallie Felix Phiri said police had similarly created zones to protect the infrastructure and increased the visibility of both uniformed and civilian officers to improve public safety.

While theft is a major problem in Lilongwe, Mzuzu is grappling with a different combination of damage and maintenance challenges.

Mzuzu damage

Most of the street lights installed along Orton Chirwa Highway in 2023 are no longer operating as expected, according to Mzuzu City Council spokesperson McDonald Gondwe.

Gondwe said the council had implemented one major street-lighting project along the highway, while other lights were installed as part of road rehabilitation works.

“The lights are not operating as expected. In fact, most of them are down now,” he said.

He said some poles had been hit by motorists who drove away without reporting the damage.

“We have taken a long time without periodic maintenance as most of the spares are expensive,” Gondwe said.

He also cited theft of council property as another problem.

Although the council is responsible for maintenance, Gondwe said it lacks adequate resources to keep the system fully operational.

“Dark streets pose a security risk to lives and property, including mugging. The beauty of the city at night is lost,” he said.

He added that poorly lit areas could discourage investors and slow development.

“Dark cities are a security risk to lives and property,” Gondwe said.

Zomba’s ageing batteries

In Zomba, the problem is less about vandalism and more about ageing equipment.

Mayor Christopher Jana said the city had not experienced vandalism of its street lights, but some areas had developed dark spots because batteries installed about a decade ago had reached the end of their service life.

Affected areas include the stretch around Mpunga and the road from the District Health Office to Namadidi.

“Zomba has not been affected by vandalism. However, some areas, especially the stretch around Kwa Mpunga, have dark spots because the batteries have reached the end of their lifespan after 10 years,” Jana said in an interview on Wednesday.

Jana said the council initially struggled to identify the cause of the failures before engaging a consultant, who diagnosed battery failure.

The council has since been trying to procure replacement batteries but has struggled to find the specific model used in the original installation.

Jana said the council was considering waiting for a new order of the batteries or replacing bulbs and other components to match batteries that are readily available.

Around 2021, Zomba City Council installed 867 solar-powered street lights in three phases, beginning with the road from Four Miles to Chikupira.

The system was designed to switch on automatically at night and off at daybreak. At the time, council officials said the project had reduced the council’s electricity bill and required relatively little routine maintenance.

The lights were funded by the Roads Fund Administration, with the council responsible for monitoring the poles for faults and vandalism.

Years later, however, the experience of Lilongwe, Mzuzu and Zomba shows that installing street lights is only the beginning. Keeping them operational requires sustained maintenance, protection from vandalism and timely replacement of components as they age.

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