Zesa iron theft: Scrap metal firm trial begins

THE trial of a Bulawayo scrap metal company that allegedly vandalised Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) infrastructure, valued at US$2 013 began yesterday with State witnesses providing their testimonies in court.

Panellink Manufacturing Private Limited, based in the Kelvin West industrial area and represented by Providence Farai Gumbo, appeared before Western Commonage Regional Magistrate, Mrs Sibongile Marondedze.

The case was remanded to March 25 for the continuation of the trial.
Prosecutor, Mr Milton Moyo informed the court that the company was found in possession of 79 pieces of angle iron bars, each 1,6 metres long and engraved with ZETDC serial numbers.

“The accused used two of the galvanised angle irons by welding them to a conveyor belt steel structure under construction at the company premises,” he said.

“The galvanised angle irons in the accused’s possession are part of the material imported by the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company to construct electricity pylons.”

“These pylons transmit high-voltage power from the generation power plant into the national grid, the sub-transmission network, and for wheeling power to the interconnected Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) countries,” Mr Moyo added.

He told the court that the offence was discovered on February 11 this year by a team of detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department’s Mineral Flora and Fauna Unit.

The team had been deployed to address the vandalism of state utilities, including the National Railways of Zimbabwe and TelOne.

“On that date, the team visited a site owned by Panellink Manufacturing Private Limited. The detectives introduced themselves to the company’s executive officer and informed him of their mission,” said Mr Moyo.

He explained that the detectives requested permission to conduct searches on the premises, which the chief executive officer consented to. He then assigned a company representative to accompany the detectives during the searches.

“During the search, the detectives recovered two galvanised angle irons, engraved with ZETDC serial numbers, from a pile of scrap metal,” Mr Moyo said.

**Part of ZETDC-branded angle irons that were recovered from a scrap metal dealer in the Kelvin West industrial area in Bulawayo**

“The team continued their search and recovered two more angle irons, also engraved with ZETDC serial numbers, welded to a conveyor belt structure under construction at the company premises.”

“The detectives made further searches and recovered 75 additional angle irons, all engraved with ZETDC serial numbers, piled near a wall on the company premises,” he added.

One of the detectives, who testified in court, stated that the company had produced a scrap metal dealing certificate.
“As we were inquiring how they had acquired the angle irons, they showed us a scrap metal dealing certificate. We then informed them that the angle irons were new and could not be classed as scrap. They were unable to provide a reasonable explanation,” the detective said.

In their defence, the company claimed they had acquired the angle irons from third parties who had bought them at a ZETDC auction last year.

“We were even cleared by the police and ZETDC when we acquired them,” said Mr Gumbo, a company representative.
The angle irons are currently being held as exhibits at CID MFFU Bulawayo.