Online Reporter
Yeukai Karengezeka
Court Correspondent
Two men have been sentenced to 10 years in prison each for stealing underground telecommunication cables belonging to TelOne, the country’s primary telecommunications provider.
Lincoln Ambrose, alias Tinashe Motsi (27), of Kuwadzana 3, and Blessing Mutsago (27), were convicted after a full trial before Harare magistrate Letwin Rwodzi.
The pair faced charges of theft involving telecommunications infrastructure lines and apparatus.
Prosecutor Mr Loveti Muringwa proved that on July 9, the two men, accompanied by an accomplice known only as “Magreens”, who is still at large, targeted an area near Holy Cross in Kuwadzana 3.
Armed with a pick and a shovel, the trio dug up and cut five meters of a 600-pair underground TelOne cable, causing extensive damage to critical communication infrastructure.
While they were still at the scene, their suspicious activity caught the attention of alert residents, who apprehended Ambrose.
Mutsago and Magreens fled the scene but Mutsago left behind a black jacket, which later became a key piece of evidence leading to his identification.
TelOne officials arrived at the scene and called the police, who took Ambrose into custody.
Further investigations eventually led to Mutsago’s arrest. Unfortunately, the stolen cable, valued at US$60, was not recovered.
Harare magistrate Letwin Rwodzi handed down the 10-year prison sentence, highlighting the severe impact such thefts have on national communication systems.
Online Reporter