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Sikhulekelani Moyo, Business Reporter
BUSINESSES should adopt technology-driven solutions to curb vandalism and theft of critical infrastructure which has seen many entities losing a lot of resources replacing vandalised infrastructure.
The power utility, Zesa, telecommunication companies, National Railways of Zimbabwe, among others, have been under siege from criminals vandalising their infrastructure and equipment resulting in them spending millions of dollars annually to replace the vandalised infrastructure.
During the past two months, the NRZ loss control and security unit recorded 27 cases of theft and vandalism of property or infrastructure worth US$16 925.
Zesa reported recently that it is losing more than US$20 million per year due to vandalism and theft of electricity infrastructure.
This has seen more than 23 000 electricity users being cut off.
Property being stolen include copper cables, wagon components, ballast (quarry stone used to stabilise rail), steel sleepers and transformer components.
Minister of State for Presidential Affairs and Monitoring Implementation of Government Programmes, Dr Joram Gumbo, who was in Bulawayo recently, said the Government was depressed by the continuing tide of vandalism of infrastructure.
He urged the affected companies to invest more towards adoption of innovative technology-driven solutions that use information communication technology (ICT) to combat crime.
“Government continues to receive the depressing news of the vandalism of infrastructure. It’s our expectation that you will adopt innovative and ICT based solutions in order to decisively address this problem,” said Dr Gumbo.
Commenting on the same issue, ICT expert Mr Jacob Mutisi said vandalism and theft of critical infrastructure has become a scourge that requires technology interventions.
“We should have closed-circuit television (CCTV) and alarm systems that are linked to a command centre installed. The good thing is all systems are now on mobile networks and they are real-time, you can access them from a simple mobile device,” said Mr Mutisi.
Through the use of drones and other high-tech crime detection equipment, the NRZ is on record saying this has helped it to recover the bulk of its stolen equipment.
Meanwhile, Zesa has come up with a number of measures to address the situation, among them replacing copper cables with aluminum ones.
The company has also engaged Parliament to push for legal reviews to ensure deterrent sentences for offenders by raising jail terms for tempering with power infrastructure from 10 years to 30 years. – @ SikhulekelaniM1
Online Reporter