CAAZ security guard steals copper cables

A CONVICT allegedly connived with a Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) stores security guard and two other men to steal a drum of copper cables valued at $25 761.

Tawanda Mapfumo (39), who was convicted in 2014 for a similar offence, Tafadzwa Chandengenda (31), Ailot Madzvamutse (38) and Daniel Shumba (52) appeared before Harare magistrate Ms Rumbidzayi Mugwagwa facing theft charges.

The quartet will appear in court today for bail hearing. Prosecutor Mr Sebastian Mutizirwa alleges that Mapfumo, approached Chandengenda, who is a security guard at CAAZ, and the two hatched a plan to steal a drum of copper cables.

It is alleged that Mapfumo then went to Shumba, who is in the transport business and is also Madzvamutse’s employer, to organise transport for the loot. The court heard that Shumba then released a transport crane to his employee Madzvamutse together with two other employees, including the crane operator, who are still at large.

It is alleged that Madzvamutse drove to CAAZ together with two other accomplices only identified as Brighton and Simbarashe.

The trio approached Chandengenda, who was guarding the stolen property, and he in turn opened the gates for them.

He also ordered Simbarashe and Brighton to load the copper cables into their vehicle.

They then drove to Mapfumo’s premises, where they found him already waiting for them.

Mapfumo ordered his security guard, Calvin Yobe, to guard the stolen cables, the court heard.

After the offence was discovered, police officers went to Mapfumo’s work place to arrest him.

Upon seeing the police, Mapfumo fled in his truck, but the police, together with local security guards, followed in hot pursuit and subsequently apprehended him after he had been involved in an accident at Mukuvisi River near Mbare.