TWO Bulawayo siblings have been arrested after they were
allegedly found in possession of 1,6 tonnes of Zimbabwe Electricity
Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) copper cables valued at more than
$400 000.
Sithembinkosi Muti (44) and Thembekile Masiza Conjwayo (34)
both of Kingsdale suburb had hidden the copper cables in Muti’s house.
The duo was not asked to plead to receiving or taking into
possession any material used in connection with generation, transmission,
distribution or supply of electricity charge when they appeared before Bulawayo
magistrate, Ms Nomasiko Ndlovu.
They remanded in custody to December 4.
According to court papers, on Wednesday at around 5PM,
detectives received information that Muti and Conjwayo were in possession of
copper cables at their house.
At around 6PM, the detectives went to Muti’s house in
Kingsdale where they found Conjwayo and introduced themselves.
The detectives requested to search the house and Conjwayo
who was in possession of Muti’s house keys opened one of the spare bedrooms
where 124 rolls of copper cables and an ameen AWS 300 electronic scale were
recovered.
Conjwayo allegedly told the detectives that the copper
cables belonged to his sister.
A follow up was made to locate Muti. The siblings failed to account for the copper cables
leading to their arrest.
The recovered copper cables are a mixture of 50 millimetre
and 75 milimetre squared rolls. They are all worth $486 300. Zesa has been
experiencing increased incidents of vandalism, some of which have claimed
lives.
Recently, Cabinet also expressed concern over vandalism of
Zesa infrastructure and put into spotlight the effectiveness of the 10-year
mandatory sentence for those convicted. Some stakeholders have suggested a
mandatory sentence of 20 years.
Some of the stolen copper is being smuggled into
neighbouring South Africa where there is a ready market.
Many cases of vandals being electrocuted while cutting live
wires have been reported but this has not been a deterrent. Herald
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