Moffat Mungazi
Fidelis Chavarike
Post Reporter
THREE men appeared at the Mutare Magistrates Court facing three counts of theft of property belonging to Mutare City Council as well as unlawful entry into the council premises.
Tinashe Makonese (22) and two juveniles aged 17 from Mutare appeared before Mr Tendai Mahwe accused of stealing a standard heavy-duty cover of a sewer main hole, 11 x 3m x 16mm copper cables, and a Nissan Caravan gear between April 1 and 3.
The matter was remanded to June 10, 2025.
They were arrested by a National Railways of Zimbabwe security guard, who spotted one of them with a sack of copper cables and pliers.
The three are being charged with contravening Section 60A(3)(B) of the Electricity Act (Chapter 13:19), (cutting and damaging any apparatus supplying electricity) and unlawful entry into premises as defined in Section 131 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act (Chapter 9:23).
Prosecutor Mrs Sharon Mlambo said on April 1, the trio unlawfully and intentionally stole the heavy-duty cover, knowing it belonged to Mutare City Council.
The following day, they allegedly entered the council premises through an opening and stole a Nissan Caravan gear.
“On April 3, at Mutare City Council’s Yeovil Pillar Box, the three, without lawful excuse, cut and stole 11 x 3m x 16mm copper cables, thereby interfering with the apparatus for generating and transmitting electricity to Yeovil street lights,” said Mrs Mlambo.
The suspects were seen entering a bush with a sack near NRZ on April 4, and were subsequently arrested by an alert security guard, who informed the Criminal investigations department (CID).
Apon arrest and interrogation, the trio led detectives to the scenes of the crimes for indications.
The stolen property was subsequently recovered.
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