Online Reporter
Kimberley Chitambara, [email protected]
A 41-YEAR-OLD Bulawayo man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for stealing copper cables in Makokoba suburb, disrupting electricity supply to two households.
Future Khuphe of Emakhandeni suburb was convicted by Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Shingai Mutiro for contravening the Electricity Act (Chapter 13:19) by unlawfully cutting, damaging and interfering with equipment used for the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity.
In mitigation, Khuphe pleaded for leniency, expressing remorse for his actions and appealing to the court for mercy.
He cited the Lord’s Prayer, saying: “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.”
However, the court noted that the offence carries a mandatory minimum sentence under the law and sentenced him to 10 years’ imprisonment.
Prosecuting, Mr Owen Mugari told the court that on March 24 at about 2.30PM, Khuphe unlawfully cut and damaged a weather deck supplying electricity to houses number 1631 and 1632 in Makokoba.
The damage resulted in a power outage that affected residents at the two properties, causing inconvenience and disruption to their daily activities.
A report was made to the police and investigations led to Khuphe’s arrest on the following day.
