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Herald Reporter
Zesa Holdings has expressed concern at the rampant increase in vandalism cases in and around Harare that have cost the power utility thousands of dollars monthly. This comes after unknown thieves vandalised a transformer and stole oil and copper cables in Whitecliff area last Thursday.
The transformer, worth over $15 000, had been installed the previous day for over 100 residents who had just applied for electricity in the area.
Police confirmed the theft and said investigations were still underway.
Zesa Holdings network manager for the Northern Region Engineer Fungai Zowa yesterday said the incident came to light last Thursday when residents found that security iron bars that had been erected to protect the transformer had been tampered with.
“The incident occurred between last Wednesday night and early Thursday morning. We had just installed the transformer so that the residents would start getting electricity in the area,” he said.
The transformer was mounted on two electricity poles, more than five metres from the ground.
The thieves used hacksaws to cut the iron bars and dismantled the transformer before stealing the transformer oil and copper cables.
Eng Zowa said the transformer was supposed to have served the residents for between 25 and 40 years, adding the power utility was recording at least one vandalism case per day in and around the city with thieves targeting transformer oil and copper cables.
It is believed that some of the transformer oil is sold to haulage truck drivers and kombi drivers who mix it with diesel.
In December last year, police in Harare arrested five copper suspects and recovered 30 tonnes of electricity cables worth more than $600 000 in a suspected case of vandalism.
Zesa lost copper cables worth $6 million through vandalism from January to November last year.
Meanwhile, police in Kwekwe have arrested one of the two suspected armed robbers that were terrorising residents and recovered various electrical gadgets and property worth thousands of dollars.
The suspects were using guns to raid various houses in Mberengwa, Mataga and Buhwa areas.
Criminal Investigations Department (CID) spokesperson Detective Inspector Monalisa Mangena said they arrested Joseph Jacob Banda (46) in connection with the cases.
“The accused person used a crowbar to force open doors and gain entry into premises, where he stole various properties,” she said.
Following Banda’s arrest, he led police to the recovery of 10 plasma television sets, two DVD players, two microwaves, electric jugs, radio speakers and two laptops among other goods. Also recovered were two spent cartridges, which were fired from the same gun.
Banda is in police custody and police are still looking for his accomplices who are still at large.
Det Insp Mangena said the recovered property was at CID Kwekwe Police Station and urged people to come for identification.
She urged the public to ensure that they put adequate security measures to secure their property and to join the neighbourhood watch committees to curb crime.
“They should also put alarms and light sensors at their houses. People are also encouraged to take interest in police operations such that they are kept up to date with the latest crime trends and avoid falling victims,” Det Insp Mangena said.
In February police urged the public to be wary of criminals who were raiding their homes during the night in and around Harare targeting cash and other valuables.
This came after police appealed for information that might assist in arresting criminals targeting certain residential areas in Harare and other parts of the country.
Police said the criminals were stealing at night and were targeting valuables such as cellphones and television sets as well as groceries.
Online Reporter