Copper wire thieves ambushed, arrested

ZVISHAVANE - A FOUR member syndicate was on Wednesday arrested for stealing copper syndicate weighing 500 kg from the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC)

The four suspects, Brighton Mabweazara, 35, Gorge Mawata, 26, Cain Mandyokwa, 40, and Simbarashe Jonasi, 30, all from Zvishavane Town, were ambushed and caught them red handed by cops.

Detective Assistant Inspector Booker Mutare of the Criminal Investigations Department said on Tuesday this week they received a tip off that there were some illicit dealings involving copper wire at Nill Township, just behind Shabane Mine.

He said the gang arrived and chopped one of the poles after switching off electricity before cutting electrical cables which were about 450 metres.

"They came early and cut down one of the poles. While they were doing this they kept in contact with us. They then informed me that they were done. I went to them and told them my boss wants us to weigh the copper wires first before he could send their money via EcoCash. That is when I called my squad and we arrested them," he a local daily.

Mutare said the arrest of the four was the 10th such case involving electricity cables to be recorded in Zvishavane this year.

Areas that were affected and left without electricity as a result of the copper wire theft include Murowa Diamond, part of Zvishavane town and Chegato High School.

ZETDC Network Area Manager for Gweru District, Engineer Cousins Manase, said they have lost 13,525 tonnes of copper through such activities.