Quartet in court for alleged theft of ZESA cables

Source: The Herald – Breaking news.

Yeukai Karengezeka, Court Correspondent

FOUR men accused of stealing 60 metres of electricity cables from a Zesa substation in Harare have been brought before the courts.

Nelson Dzomba (26), Blessing Mazhambe (26), Godfrey Kalonga (51) and Munashe Isaac (35) last week appeared before Harare Magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa facing charges of contravening the Electricity Act.

The quartet was remanded in custody to April 25 when its bail application will be heard.

The complainant in the case is the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), represented by Mr Kennedy Nyamukubva, a loss control officer.

Prosecutor Mr Lancelot Mutsokoti told the court that on April 15, at around 9.50pm, the accused individuals went to a ZESA substation located at the corner of Kennedy Drive and Coronation Drive in Greendale, Harare.

They allegedly used an unidentified tool to cut a 60-metre-long, 60mm core signal pilot cable, which is used for transmitting signals and fled the scene.

Later that night, the complainant, Mr Nyamukubva, was informed by his depot foreman, Mr Maworere, of suspected vandalism at the substation.

Acting on this information, Mr Nyamukubva teamed up with a colleague from the loss control department, William Mukucha and proceeded to the scene to investigate.

At the scene, a local gardener, Fanuel Nhau, informed the complainant that he had seen the accused pulling the stolen cable towards the nearby fire station.

The suspects reportedly dragged the cable along Kennedy Drive to their base, where they were staying as squatters.

Upon confirming that the cable had indeed been cut and stolen, the complainant filed a report at ZRP Rhodesville.

Constable Robson Chimbwanda of ZRP Rhodesville accompanied the complainant back to the scene, where they once again interviewed Nhau.

He provided further details and guided the team to the squatters’ base at the corner of Coronation Road and Kennedy Drive.

The four suspects were arrested at the location and positively identified by Nhau.

The stolen cable, valued at US$1 200, was recovered nearby and identified by the complainant.