Airtel Malawi has praised the collaborative efforts between its team, the Malawi Police Service, the media, and the general public in the fight against the vandalism of its fiber infrastructure.
The commendation was made during a media briefing on Tuesday by Mphatso Manda, Airtel Malawi’s Director of Networks, who acknowledged the significant progress made since the company issued a public appeal in June.
Manda highlighted that two major arrests have been made following increased surveillance and public awareness campaigns.
In one case, a suspect was caught red-handed vandalizing fiber cables in Lilongwe’s Area 3 and has since been sentenced to 30 months in prison. Another suspect was apprehended while attempting to steal cables along a construction site between Kanengo and Area 25. That case is still under prosecution.
The Airtel executive emphasized the importance of swift action from law enforcement, singling out the Malawi Police Service for their rapid response and continued cooperation.
He stressed that these developments demonstrate the impact of multi-stakeholder collaboration and urged communities to remain vigilant in protecting telecom infrastructure.
Beyond arrests, Manda shared a success story from Phalula in Balaka, where community members stopped potential damage to fiber cables after recognizing warning tape during a construction project. He credited this intervention to effective media coverage and increased public education on the importance of safeguarding digital infrastructure.
Kanengo Police Station Public Relations Officer, Sub-Inspector Greciam Ngwira, echoed the call for ongoing collaboration. He reaffirmed the police’s commitment to protecting Airtel’s assets and acknowledged the critical role of community involvement in identifying and reporting suspicious activity.
He also pointed out that media channels have become essential in spreading awareness far beyond what traditional outreach can achieve.
Both Airtel and the police emphasized that fiber infrastructure supports critical services including education, commerce, healthcare, and communication. Any disruption caused by vandalism can have far-reaching consequences, particularly in underserved areas where connectivity is a lifeline. The cooperation shown in recent months serves as a model for how public-private partnerships can safeguard national assets.
Manda further reiterated Airtel’s call to action: “Let us continue to stand united against vandalism. Whenever you see a threat to our network infrastructure, raise your voice. Together, we can protect our connectivity and secure Malawi’s digital future.” The company remains committed to community engagement, proactive monitoring, and strengthening ties with law enforcement to ensure that network infrastructure remains secure.
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