Minister of Energy Ibrahim Matola has asked SADC member states to take the issue of vandalism of electricity equipment seriously by working together in order to curb the malpractice.

This has come because Malawi is facing high cases of vandalism despite civic education campaigns and the minister thinks the only way to end the vice is to ban the market, which is within the region.

Matola was saying this during the 42^nd joint meeting of the committee of minister responsible for energy and water, held in Luanda, Angola, from 27^th to 30^th May.

The minister said the problem should be tackled as a block.

He concluded that this is happening because these people have markets within the SADC region. So, if they want to end this, they must put laws that ban the import and export of these types of scrap metals. However, as long as there is a demand for these scraps within the region, this problem will not end.

Minister of energy from Eswatini Prince Lonkhokhela Dlamini said the matter is serious and needs attention. Delegates at the 42^nd joint meeting discussed several issues that need attention with much focus on regional integration projects.