Loss control officer in court for theft of recovered cables

Yeukai Karengezeka-Court Correspondent

TelOne loss control officer Penelock Majonhi (47) has appeared in court for allegedly stealing recovered telecommunications cables.

He is charged with three offences: Contravening the Postal and Telecommunications Act, criminal abuse of duty as a public officer, and supplying false information to a public authority.

Majonhi appeared before Harare Magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa and was remanded in custody, with a bail ruling scheduled for today.

The State is represented by Detective Constable Bothwell Maneka, while the prosecution is led by Mr Lancelot Mutsokoti.

The court heard that on December 11, Majonhi reported for duty at the TelOne Main Exchange in Harare.

He was accompanied by two Seasec Security Company guards, Obvious Munyaradzi Kuwapfaira and Marshal Sithole.

Constable Elliot Mazango, assigned to TelOne duties, later joined the team for patrols in various areas, including Southerton, Glen Norah, Glen View, Kuwadzana, and Warren Park.

At approximately 12.30am, while driving along Remembrance Drive in Mbare, the team noticed two men walking along the road, one carrying a sack.

Majonhi stopped the vehicle and Kuwapfaira and Sithole approached the suspects. One suspect escaped while the other, identified as Crainos Tagwirei, was apprehended.

A search of Tagwirei revealed tools such as a shovel, pick, hacksaw, knife, and empty sacks, but nothing incriminating was found.

Tagwirei claimed he had been working at a house in Westlea owned by a Mr Shumba. However, inquiries at the alleged address found no one by that name.

It is alleged that Majonhi then instructed Kuwapfaira to plant a piece of TelOne drop wire in Tagwirei’s possession.

Kuwapfaira reportedly retrieved a small bundle of TelOne cable from the vehicle and placed it in Tagwirei’s sack in full view of Const Mazango.

Majonhi took videos and photos during this staged search, falsely presenting the drop wire as evidence of theft.

Const Mazango questioned Majonhi’s actions, leading to a dispute among the team as they returned to the city.

Instead of reporting the incident to the nearest police station, Majonhi drove to the TelOne Main Exchange, where he ordered Const Mazango to disembark.

He assured Const Mazango that he would release Tagwirei where they had picked him.

Contrary to his assurances, Majonhi made a false report to CID Minerals Flora and Fauna Unit (MFFU) Harare, accusing Tagwirei of violating the Postal and Telecommunications Act, leading to Tagwirei’s wrongful detention.

During the subsequent investigation, detectives from CID MFFU Harare discovered that Majonhi had fabricated the report and had no lawful authority to possess TelOne drop wire or to act in the manner he did.

These findings resulted in Majonhi’s arrest.

The court is set to rule on Majonhi’s bail application today.