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TWO Harare men have been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment after being convicted of stealing ZESA cables.
Richard Dzinzi (35) and Reward Sibanda (53) failed to give defence when they appeared before Harare regional magistrate Clive Tsikwa.
The duo pleaded guilty to the charges and failed to give any special circumstances why they committed the offence.
It is the State’s that on January 6, Richard Dzinzi, Sibanda, Amos Dzinzi and Tafadzwa Phiri connived to steal Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company cables.
It was proved that Richard discovered copper cables next to a ZESA powerline at Wagon Wheels’ Farm and connived with Sibanda to steal them.
After cutting the cables into pieces, Sibanda and Richard called a taxi driver to help them carry the cables.
The driver tipped the police that he had been hired to carry copper cables, and they swiftly attended the crime scene.
On January 10, a ZESA representative was invited by the detectives to check whether the cables belonged to the power utility and he positively identified them.
Their accomplices Amos and Phiri were remanded in custody to tomorrow after Richard and Sibanda absolved them of involvement in the cable theft.
Prosecutor Zvikomborero Mupasa submitted that the State wanted to confirm with the investigating officers if there is a case against the two.
The copper cables weighed about 168kgs and were valued at $292 500.
Online Reporter