Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka
Court Correspondent
A 22-year-old Harare man has been jailed for 10 years after he was caught red-handed stealing copper cables from a fallen electricity pole in his neighbourhood.
Wisdom Chityeza, of Crowbrough Phase 4, was convicted by Mbare magistrate Mr Tinashe Ndokera of contravening the Electricity Act by tampering with and damaging equipment used in the generation and distribution of electricity.
The complainant, the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), was represented by its loss control officer Mr Tendai Chirodza.
According to the State, on November 30, 2025, Chityeza went to Hearny Road in Crowbrough, where he targeted copper cables that had become disconnected from an electricity pole.
Using an unknown tool, he cut the cables and attempted to steal them.
The offence was detected by Harare City Council security guards Claudius Chinyoka, Edward Kashiri and Maxwell Bantoni, who were on patrol in the area.
They saw Chityeza damaging the electricity pole with a hammer and immediately alerted ZETDC’s loss control officer.
When approached, Chityeza attempted to flee but was apprehended.
A search of the satchel he was carrying revealed several pieces of copper cables belonging to ZETDC.
He was subsequently taken to ZRP Marimba Police Station for further investigations.
ZETDC later confirmed that the recovered property included a 16mm by four-metre cable and a 70mm by four-metre cable.
The total value of the stolen cables was assessed at US$720, with cables worth US$340 recovered.
Magistrate Ndokera imposed a 10-year prison term on Chityeza.
