Notorious copper cable thief jailed for 31 years in Bulawayo

A NOTORIOUS copper cable thief, Tapfumanei Muzarabani (48), has been sentenced to 31 years in prison after being convicted of stealing copper wires valued at US$141 000.
The sentencing follows an intensive two-week police operation in Bulawayo and comes amid growing concerns over the rampant vandalism of essential infrastructure, which has left many communities without electricity, telecommunications, and railway services.

Muzarabani, a resident of Bellevue suburb, was found guilty of four counts of copper theft, violating several laws, including Section 38 of the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) Act, Section 89 of the Telecommunications Act, Section (3) (1) of the Copper Control Act, and Section 60 of the Electricity Act. Bulawayo regional magistrate Mr Matthew Mutiro sentenced him to 10 years for each of the three major counts and one year for the fourth count. However, the court ruled that three of the counts would run concurrently, resulting in an effective 11-year jail term.

In his ruling, Mr Mutiro emphasized the severity of copper theft and its widespread impact on public utilities. “Such crimes attract a mandatory 10-year jail sentence due to the critical role copper infrastructure plays in public services. The theft of copper cables disrupts essential services and undermines national development,” he said.

Prosecutor Ms Concillia Ncube revealed that Muzarabani’s criminal activities spanned from January 2022 to March 2023, during which he targeted key service providers, including the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), NRZ, and TelOne. His theft spree caused significant disruptions, leading to frequent power outages, crippled railway operations, and interrupted telecommunications services in Bulawayo.

Authorities recovered 430kg of stolen NRZ locomotive power conductors and service cables valued at US$8 600, 2 600kg of scrap copper worth US$52 000 stolen from ZETDC, and copper cables valued at US$2 000 stolen from TelOne.

Muzarabani’s wife, Tracy Muzarabani, and two other suspects, Allan Mudyiwa (28) and Hebron Chiyangwa (27) of Mahatshula suburb, were acquitted due to insufficient evidence linking them directly to the crimes. The four had been arrested in March last year in Mahatshula on charges of illegal possession of copper cables.

The conviction and sentencing of Muzarabani come as police intensify operations to dismantle copper theft syndicates across the country. The Government has also tightened regulations on copper trade, imposing stricter monitoring and penalties for illegal dealers.

Vandalism of critical infrastructure remains a significant challenge, not only causing financial losses but also hindering national development and service delivery.
The case highlights the urgent need for continued vigilance and collaborative efforts to protect essential infrastructure and ensure uninterrupted services for communities.