The Lilongwe Magistrate Court has handed down a six-month prison sentence with hard labour to Matthews Simiyoni, 36, from Village Phwanya, Traditional Authority Tambala in Dedza.

Simiyoni was found guilty of stealing Lilongwe Water Board (LWB) fittings.

LWB Chief Executive Officer, Silli Mbewe, has since encouraged the general public to report any theft or vandalism of the Board’s materials to the nearest police station or LWB by calling 253.

“Your report can help prevent damage to our infrastructure and ensure uninterrupted water supply to our customers,” Mbewe said.

LWB has further commended the law enforcement agencies for their efforts in bringing the perpetrator to justice.

The conviction and sentencing of Simiyoni serve as a deterrent to would-be thieves and vandals, and demonstrate LWB’s commitment to protecting its assets and maintaining service delivery to its customers.