Eight men, including teen, up for US$283,000 copper cable theft

Trish Mukwazo

EIGHT men, including a teenager, appeared in court today for stealing 60 metres of armoured copper cables valued at US$283,000 from the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) Richmond substation in Bulawayo.

Ronald Moyo (32), Qhubekani Nyathi (28), Kudakwashe Ndlovu, Eddie Mishiri Dube (20), Tafadzwa Ncube (18), Sydney Moyo (22), Prince Ntonga (35), and Simon Chamhudze (36) devised a plan to steal the cables from the ZETDC Glenview substation in Richmond suburb.

They were apprehended after Ntonga and Chamhudze were caught with 92 kilograms of copper, which they could not account for by producing a licence. The two are facing a separate charge of possessing the copper cables without a licence.

The apprehension of Ntonga and Chamhudze led to the discovery of the theft they committed with the other accused persons at the Richmond substation.

The eight briefly appeared before Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Mr Joseph Mabeza, charged with violating The Electricity Act. They were remanded in custody until tomorrow.

For the State, Mr Dominic Moyo stated that on 25 January, the eight accused hatched a plan to steal the copper cables from the ZETDC Glenville substation in Richmond.

“At around 8 PM, they proceeded there and, upon arrival, used a ladder to break into the station. While inside, they used a hacksaw and a bolt cutter to cut the 60 metres of 185 mm² three-core armoured copper cable that was installed to distribute electricity from the substation to Richmond suburb,” said Mr Moyo.

The eight dragged the cables out of the substation and made off with them.

On the morning of 27 January, Ntonga and Chamhudze were caught with burnt armoured copper cables after police requested to search their Toyota Hilux at Ages Industrial Solutions near Kelvin West.

The cables weighed 198 kilograms at Zimpost. An engineer from ZETDC discovered that the cables were the company’s property used in the distribution of electricity.

“The total cut and burnt armoured copper cables are valued at US$283,000,” said Mr Moyo.

The police recovered the overhead cables, the car, a makeshift ladder, and a bolt cutter, which will be presented in court as evidence.