Online Reporter
Fairness Moyana in Hwange
A security guard employed by the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) has been sentenced to 17 months in prison for his role in the theft of 125 two-volt chloride batteries from the company’s premises.
Nyasha Vincent Mufudza (28), of Hwange, colluded with two individuals; Blessed Ncube (23) and Prince Mathe, who is still at large, in the crime.
Mufudza and Ncube both pleaded guilty when they recently appeared before Hwange Provincial Magistrate Mr Bentone Matope, facing two counts of theft.
Each was sentenced to 10 months’ imprisonment. Ncube, who had a prior conviction with a suspended two-month sentence, had it brought into effect, bringing his total to 12 months.
A further 10 months were imposed on the duo for the second count.
Of this, three months were conditionally suspended, while the remaining seven months were converted to 245 hours of community service, to be completed within eight weeks.
The court heard that on March 11, 2025 at around 10pm, Mufudza and Ncube, together with their accomplice Mathe, broke into the ZETDC depot scrap yard in Hwange through a hole in the perimeter fence.
There, they stole 63 two-volt chloride batteries and made off unnoticed.
They sold the batteries, valued at US$382 (equivalent to ZWG13 370), to Tedious Tiyiyani of Exide Express.
In a second incident, on April 7, 2025, Mufudza, who had returned to duty at the ZETDC depot scrap yard under the employment of Oswell Security Company, again colluded with Ncube and Mathe.
At around 10pm, the trio gained access to the yard and stole 62 more two-volt chloride batteries, hiding them in nearby bushes approximately 60 metres south of the site.
The following morning at around 8am, Mufudza hired Malilo Munsaka, who was using a Toyota Noah vehicle, to transport the stolen batteries to Exide Express, Hwange.
The batteries were sold for US$434 (equivalent to ZWG15 190).
The matter was reported to the police, and investigations led to the arrest of Mufudza and Ncube and the recovery of the 62 chloride batteries.
Mr Wisdom Shava prosecuted.
