Vandalising street-lights and stealing copper cables valued
at $80 has proved costly for a Harare man after he was slapped with a mandatory
10-year jail term for the offence.
Tapiwa Kachere (28), who plunged part of Seke Road into
darkness after stealing the components, was convicted on his own plea before
Harare magistrate Mr Francis Mapfumo.
He pleaded guilty to theft of 4kg of copper cables in
violation of Section 60A (3) (a) (b) of the Electricity Act.
In terms of the law, the offence attracts a mandatory
10-year prison term. The court can only impose a lesser penalty where it is
satisfied of the existence of special circumstances.
Mr Mapfumo had no kind words for Kachere, whom he described
as an “economic saboteur”.
This comes at a time power utility ZESA Holdings is
groaning under the effects of theft of electricity infrastructure and
consumables.
Several residential areas are often plunged into total
darkness due to faults related to vandalism and theft.
The safety of people, especially women, is compromised by
the darkness occasioned by the criminal elements’ actions, resulting in a rise
in robberies, murder, rape cases and theft.
Although Kachere did not waste the court’s time, Mr Mapfumo
found no special circumstances warranting a departure from the mandatory
10-year penalty.
Outlining the reasons for sentence, Mr Mapfumo said crimes
of that nature were increasing and imposition of the mandatory sentence would
send the right message to would-be offenders.
Facts are that on June 9, 2019 near house number 77, Seke
Road, Kachere vandalised a street light and made off with the copper cables
used in the transmission power.
He was arrested following a tip- off. Herald
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