
The pair was arrested at the Beitbridge Border Post when
their truck was searched during a stop and search operation.
It is believed the suspects were going to sell the
batteries in Zimbabwe where acute electricity shortages have created a market
for alternative energy implements across the entire nation.
In a statement on Monday, South African Police Service for
Limpopo province Constable Maphure Manamela, said the suspects were expected to
appear before a Musina magistrate.
“The prompt reaction by members of the South African Police
Service in Musina led to the arrest of two men for possession of presumed
stolen property during regular stop and searches operations at the Beitbridge
Border Post.”
“The recovery of eight Vodacom tower batteries, occurred
when a Nissan Hardbody with a trailer travelling from South Africa to Zimbabwe
was on Saturday August 3, stopped at the searching bay of the border post,”
Manamela said.
“During the search police found the tower batteries hidden
inside the trailer. The driver and his assistant were immediately arrested.”
The origin and destination of the recovered items is still
being determined through the ongoing investigations, although it has been
established the batteries belonged to Vodacom, one of South Africa’s mobile
phone network providers.
“The two suspects aged 30 and 40, will appear in Musina
Magistrates’ Court soon on charges of possession of presumed stolen
properties,” the police spokesperson said.
Zimbabwe is going through a punishing load-shedding regime
where in some cases power is cut for up to 18 hours.
The shortages have been officially blamed on low water
levels at the country’s hydro-electricity generation plant at Lake Kariba.
Opposition politicians, industrialists and other
stakeholders have, however, blamed the punishing power shortages to lack of
planning by the Zanu PF government, in charge since independence in 1980.
“These men and their party have not had any new plans ever
since taking over power, they are bankrupt of ideas. A country like ours could
be having and exporting power generated from several sources including
renewable energy if there were plans made with the future in mind,” Beitbridge
mayor Morgen Ncube, said.
“Now it looks like we are sending our citizens to steal
from countries that have planned their acts. This is embarrassing.
“Over and above that these men have been failing to service
debts of the countries that have been helping us with power. How do they
honestly believe they can have a country running for free? Their corruption is
stinking.”
Many Zimbabweans have resorted to solar and petroleum-based
energy although the latter has become unpopular due to runaway fuel prices in
the wake of cash shortages.
Solar kits are now in high demand for farming, domestic and
industrial use.
The electricity shortages are likely to hit hard students
sitting for final Ordinary, Advanced and tertiary examinations whose studies
have been disrupted. Newsday
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