Online Reporter
Dalyn Chigwizura, Court Reporter
A 37-year-old Bulawayo man has been sentenced to five years in prison after being found in possession of TelOne copper cables. Walter Magodo of Tshabalala suburb pleaded not guilty when he appeared before Western Commonage regional magistrate, Mr Pasipanodya Maturure, facing a charge of possessing material or apparatus used for the distribution of communication signals.
In his defence, Magodo claimed the charges were fabricated, stating that police had searched his residence and found nothing. He alleged that officers later produced a sack containing copper and claimed it had been recovered from him.
Prosecuting, Ms Cathrine Manyika told the court that the incident occurred on October 17, 2025. On that day, detectives from CID Minerals, Flora and Fauna Bulawayo received information that the accused was in possession of copper wires and was actively seeking a buyer in Kelvin Industries.
The court heard that one of the detectives obtained Magodo’s phone number, called him, and posed as a potential buyer.
The accused and the detective agreed to meet at the intersection of Tshabalala Drive and Siyephambili Drive in Kelvin Industries.
Magodo went to the agreed location and met the detectives, who identified themselves and requested to search him, said Ms Manyika.
During the search, the accused attempted to flee but was quickly apprehended by alert officers. They recovered burnt copper wires from a small sack he was carrying.
Magodo was asked to produce a permit or licence, which he failed to do, leading to his arrest.
Detectives later called engineers from TelOne Main Exchange for identification, and they confirmed the burnt copper wires were deformed underground cables used in the transmission of communication signals.
The identified TelOne copper cables were taken to ZimPost for weighing in the presence of the accused and weighed 0,6 kilograms, said Ms Manyika.
The total value of the cables was US$12, and all were recovered, she added.
