Portland Cement Company Fined MK188.8 Million Over Illegal Water Connections
Published on June 12, 2026 at 9:24 AM by Evance Kapito
The Blantyre Water Board has uncovered three illegal water connections allegedly operated by Portland Cement Company, resulting in a fine of MK188.8 million for unauthorized use of treated water.
According to the Board, the illegal connections were discovered during a routine inspection and monitoring exercise conducted by technical teams in Makata, Blantyre.
The operation forms part of efforts by Blantyre Water Board Chief Executive Officer, Yeremia Chihana, to strengthen inspections and reduce non-revenue water losses across the utility.
Investigations revealed that the company allegedly bypassed official procedures and drew large quantities of water directly from the Board’s distribution system through unauthorized connections without paying for the service.
Blantyre Water Board described the incident as a serious case of water theft that not only causes significant financial losses but also affects service delivery to paying customers.
Following the discovery, the Board immediately disconnected water supply to the company and initiated procedures to recover losses associated with the illegal consumption.
As part of the enforcement action, Portland Cement Company has been fined MK188,829,200.
CEO Yeremia Chihana has condemned the practice and warned that the Board will continue intensifying inspections and enforcement operations against individuals and institutions involved in illegal water connections.
The Board says the case should serve as a warning that water theft will not be tolerated as it seeks to account for all treated water produced and supplied to customers.
