20 jailed for stealing ZRL materials

TWENTY people have been convicted for theft of railway material belonging to Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL) valued at K 120, 000 between January and November, this year.

ZRL Public Relations Manager, Caristo Chitamfya, stated in a statement to the Daily Nation that criminals had been been stealing from the rail line network.

Mr Chitamfya said the convicted culprits had been slapped with jail terms ranging from two months to four years.

He said offences took place in various parts including Kitwe, Livingstone, Choma, Kabwe and Lusaka.

Mr Chitamfya said that on Thursday, the Lusaka High Court sentenced 32-year-old Stevious Chonga and 28-year-old Alester Mapulanga of Lusaka to four years imprisonment with hard labour for theft of pandrol clips valued at K 13,000.

ZRL Chief Executive Officer, Christopher Musonda, has welcomed the convictions saying this would send a clear message to would -be offenders that the law would catch up with them.