Copper cables thief jailed 20 years

He said the accomplices fled from the scene, leaving Ngoma behind, resulting in his arrest. Mr Dube said Ngoma led the police officers to where they had hidden the stolen copper cables. Mr Dube said the copper cables were valued at $15 468.

In his defence Ngoma said his friends asked him to accompany them to Gwanda for a piece job at a mine.

He said he was not aware that they wanted to steal copper cables.

“My friends had planned all this and I was not aware that they wanted to steal copper. When we left Bulawayo they said we were going to perform a piece job.

“When we got to a bushy area in Gwanda they told me to wait by the roadside and look out for vehicles that were coming but I didn’t know what was going on.

“They later summoned me and I found them rolling copper cables that they had cut off. When I questioned their actions they threatened to kill me if I didn’t assist them and that’s when I assisted them,” he said.

Meanwhile, in another case, a security guard based at the Grain Marketing Board depot in Gwanda was arrested for stealing grocery items valued at $236 from his workplace.

Thembelani Ncube (21) of Phakama suburb was convicted on his own plea of guilty to theft by Gwanda magistrate, Miss Nomagugu Ncube last week.

He was ordered to pay an $80 fine or sentenced to one month imprisonment in case of default.

In addition he was sentenced to two months imprisonment which was wholly suspended on condition he does not commit a similar offence within the next three years.