Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo
FIVE people have appeared before the Harare Magistrates’ Court in separate cases involving the theft and vandalism of critical ZESA and TelOne infrastructure.
Edwell James (23), Brian Shylock Mushangwe (24), Blessing Changara (28) and Bob Chasauka (33) appeared in court on Friday facing charges of contravening the Electricity Act after they were allegedly found in possession of stolen ZESA armoured cables.
The four were remanded in custody pending a bail application before Harare regional magistrate Mr Francis Mapfumo.
The State alleges that on June 4, detectives from the CID Minerals, Flora and Fauna Unit (MFFU) in Harare received information that the accused were at Beta Bricks Compound in Mt Hampden burning ZESA armoured cables to extract copper.
Acting on the tip-off, detectives proceeded to the scene, where they allegedly found the four men in the act of burning the cables.
They were subsequently arrested.
In a separate but related case, Justin Katopola appeared before the same court facing charges of damaging and stealing TelOne infrastructure.
Katopola pleaded guilty and is expected to be sentenced on Monday.
Prosecutors told the court that on January 12, 2026, at around 7pm, Katopola went to a TelOne pole along West Road in Avondale, Harare, where he used an unknown sharp object to cut and steal five metres of a 20-pair TelOne copper cable diptail.
The court heard that he opened the metal housing protecting the cable, pulled it out and cut it before fleeing with the stolen copper.
Katopola was arrested on June 3, 2026, in Avondale while allegedly committing a similar offence.
Following his arrest, he reportedly led police to the crime scene and made indications.
