admin
Freeman Razemba Crime Reporter
Police in Harare have arrested five copper suspects and recovered 30 tonnes of electricity cables worth more than US$600 000 in a suspected case of vandalism. Acting on a tip off on Monday, police raided a company along Tilbury Road in Willowvale Industrial area and recovered the copper that was loaded in a haulage truck ready for export.
It is not yet clear where the copper was destined with police not keen to divulge details fearing it could jeopardise their investigations.
Zesa has lost copper cables worth US$6 million through vandalism from January to November this year.
The power utility yesterday expressed concern over the increase in vandalism throughout the country.
“We are concerned about vandalism and its growth, and we feel it is not going to be possible to achieve some of the goals of the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim Asset),” said Zesa public relations manager Mr Fullard Gwasira.
He said vandalism of copper cables was disrupting power supply and affecting both households and industry.
“There is going to be customer inconveniences, farming inconveniences, and business inconveniences because we have to keep replacing the stolen copper cables,” Mr Gwasira said.
He urged the public to assist Zesa with information that would lead to the arrest of copper thieves.
Zimbabwe is facing acute power shortages due to low generation capacity and obsolete equipment.
Vandalism of Zesa transformers and copper cables has worsened the situation.
Last year, four men stole 2 250 metres of copper cables worth US$22 500 at a farm in Beatrice and were jailed for 10 years each.
In 2003, more than 300 hectares of wheat wilted in Beatrice due to power shortages after a kilometre-long electricity cable was stolen.
Online Reporter