45 years jail for stealing copper cables
A MAN from Bulawayo has been sentenced to 45 years in prison for stealing copper cables on three separate occasions.
Prosper Tshuma (26) from Iminyela suburb was convicted of cutting, damaging, interrupting and interfering with copper cables in violation of a section of the Electricity Amendment Act12/2007 by Bulawayo magistrate, Mr Mark Dzira last week. The copper cables belonging to Zimbabwe Electricity
Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) were valued at $1 144.
Mr Dzira said Tshuma had no right to interfere with the generation of supply of electricity and was sentenced to 15 years in prison for each count while 10 years were suspended on condition of good behaviour.
Prosecuting, Mr Jethro Mada said on 3 March the police’s Crime Prevention Unit (CPU) received a tip-off at 8pm to the effect that the accused was dealing in copper cables.
“Reacting to the information police officers raided the accused person at his house and conducted a search but nothing was found, the matter was handed to CID Mineral Flora and Fauna Unit, Bulawayo and the accused person led the detectives to Queens Sports Grounds ZETDC sub-station at corner 1st Avenue and Fife Street where he indicated that in the company of one Thabani who is still at large, they cut and stole one by four metres of underground copper cables from the sub-station in December 2019,” he said.
The copper cables were valued at $484. The court also heard that in January this year, Tshuma connived with Thabani and proceeded to ZETDC, Chicken Inn sub-station located along Fort Street and 11th Avenue Bulawayo. Tshuma cut and stole one by five metres of copper bars and earth wires valued at $460 being a material used for generation and supply of electricity.
On another occasion in February, Tshuma and his accomplice Thabani proceeded to Power Sales ZETDC sub-station located along Chathan and Birmingham roads, Bulawayo where they stole one by 10 kilogrammes copper gasket bar and earth wires valued at $200. Prosecutor Mada said nothing was recovered in all three counts.