10 years for vandalism

A MHANGURA man was yesterday jailed 10 years for vandalising ZETDC infrastructure.

Knowledge Kashiri, (40) was condemned to prison by Chinhoyi magistrate Ignatius Mugova after being convicted of two counts of contravening the Electricity Act.

Prosecuting, Mollen Chitsiga told the court that on June 29 at around 11pm, Kashiri teamed up with Panganai Zuva, Steven Matesanwa

and Trymore Shoko.

The gang went to Victory Dam and approached security guard, Tichaona Makanye, who was manning a transformer.

They manhandled Makanye before tying his hands and legs with plain wire. They stole copper materials, including copper windings and fled. Makanye managed to untie himself and informed supervisor what had happened and a report was made to the police.

On July 1, Mhangura police received a tip off that the gang had loaded some copper windings into a silver Honda Fit.

The police reacted swiftly and intercepted the vehicle along the Mhangura-Lions Den Road.

They searched the car and found two rolls of copper windings stashed in the boot.

The four gang members were subsequently arrested.

The copper windings are valued at US$9 800.