Vandalism costs company K1.5m

IHS, a telecommunications infrastructure provider has lost more than K1.5 million in the last three months due to vandalism, director of legal regulatory and compliance, Charles Kabuka has said.

In an interview, Mr Kabuka said that in the last three months the company has lost about K2.7 million in repairing it's towers due to vandalism across the country.

The said that due to vandalism which has become rampant, there has been negative effects on service delivery on networks.

He said that the company is being drained financially in terms of replacing batteries and other parts that are being stolen almost every day.

Mr Kabuka explained that the company has embarked on sensitizing the public through the media and engaging community leaders.

"We want to partner with you the media so that you help us to sensitize the community on the effects of vandalism on these towers because the people who are involved in these vice are our children, our nephews and relatives,” Mr Kabuka said.

He disclosed that four people have so far been arrested in Livingstone and two in

Kabwe since January this year.

And Security Coordinator Dennis Xxayeya said that the most vulnerable parts are batteries and fuel.

Mr Xxayeya stated that the company has rolled out a project to engage members of the community to make them understand the negative effects of vandalism.

He regretted that even though the batteries cost more than US$ 200, the vandals sell the batteries at cheaper prices to scrap metal dealers.

He said that there are numbers on the towers which members of the public can call to alert the company.

IHS is an independent telecommunications infrastructure provider which build, own and manage cell tower networks for leading mobile operators in urban and rural areas across Africa and the Middle East.

The company operates 1,757 telecommunications towers across the country.