Online Reporter
Zvikomborero Parafini
A HARARE businessman was yesterday remanded in custody after he was implicated in the vandalism and theft of telecommunication equipment worth over US$239 000.
Tedias Kadzere (32) was not asked to plead when he appeared before Harare regional magistrate Mrs Marewanazvo Gofa.
He was remanded to July 2 for bail ruling.
The court heard that on May 20, Kadzere and his accomplices known as Chikwengu alias Tsaona, Jowa, Taku and an unidentified male adult, proceeded to Corner King George and Nemakonde Road, Avondale, Harare where upon arrival they opened a TelOne manhole and cut an underground copper cable measuring 300 metres of 1 200 pairs.
The suspects allegedly tied the copper cable to a Mercedes Benz registration number AFK 4005, which Kadzere was driving and pulled it out.
The quintet allegedly loaded the underground copper cable into the vehicle and drove off.
On May 27, the gang allegedly drove along Sussex Road, Avondale, Harare, whereupon arrival, they opened a TelOne manhole, cut an underground copper cable measuring 29 metres of 1 200 pairs.
They tied it onto Kadzere’s vehicle and drove away.
They allegedly struck again at Corner Norfolk and Dunkled Road in Mount Pleasant, where they stole an underground copper cable with a length of 257 metres of 1 200 pairs.
Police officers on patrol came across the suspects’ vehicle that was going towards Warren Park, Harare.
They signalled the vehicle to stop but Kadzere sped off, only for him and his accomplices to abandon the vehicle in Warren Park after the intensity of the high-speed chase with police.
The police officers recovered the 257 metres of 1 200 pairs of TelOne underground copper cables and the car.
Kadzere was later arrested, and his accomplices are at large.
If convicted, Kadzere faces up to 10 years’ imprisonment because theft of telecoms equipment has a mandatory sentence of 10 years.
Tambudzai Masamvi appeared for the State.
