Chronicle Editor
Leonard Ncube, Victoria Falls Reporter
THE Government is working on some legal statutes that will see people who vandalise or tamper with electricity infrastructure such as transformers being jailed for a mandatory 30 years without an option of a fine.
The country has over the years witnessed extensive vandalism of electricity infrastructure where transformers are broken into as thieves steal transformer oil and copper cables. The once electrified railway line between Gweru and Harare was also not spared thereby rendering electric locomotives useless.
Some people have been arrested and jailed to a maximum of 10 years while others got lighter sentences. But Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi believes a permanent solution is a lengthy mandatory jail term regardless of one’s age.
Minister Chasi, who was speaking at the close of the South Africa-Zambia and Zimbabwe Infrastructure Summit and Expo in Victoria Falls last week said there was a need for a lasting solution to the problem.
“Theft and vandalism has affected electricity transmission and distribution. It has also affected irrigation and is causing food insecurity in the country. When we import power, we have to reduce the load so it’s usable in the households but infrastructure is no longer there.
“But we are going to catch these people. My proposal to Cabinet has sailed through for a mandatory 30 years jail for vandalising or stealing electricity infrastructure materials. If you are found with a piece of material from electricity infrastructure or transformer be it a small bolt or copper wire you will be sentenced to 30 years,” said Minister Chasi.
Efficient energy and availability of electricity are key drivers for the country’s economic turnaround and attainment of Vison 2030.
Minister Chasi said the statute will be crafted such that no court will consider any mitigatory or extenuating factors.
“I am going to be singing about this, in fact I have already started. Vandalism and theft of electricity equipment is generalised countrywide and one wonders if these people hold meetings or know each other. What I know is that we have to send them away for a long time even if they are 15 years, they will go.”
The minister implored citizens to raise awareness at family and social level against vandalising or tampering with transformers.
He said Zimbabwe has an energy development plan to address challenges in the country and also feed into the region.
The conference started on Wednesday and ended Friday under the theme: “Infrastructure key to economic growth and shared prosperity.”
Infrastructure development experts and development partners from South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe attended the three-day conference which sought to discuss challenges and opportunities in the region across a cross section of industry such as roads, water, rail, tourism, energy and others.
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