
A crackdown on copper cable theft has led to the arrest of six individuals implicated in a string of thefts targeting Zesa Holdings equipment across Bulawayo, Kwekwe, and Zvishavane.
The suspects, aged between 24 and 33, are accused of contravening Section 10 of the Copper Control Act for failing to provide a satisfactory account of their possession of copper cables.
The arrests were made after detectives intercepted a Nissan March vehicle (registration number ADW 7119) in Bulawayo, leading to the recovery of three sacks of copper cables. Four suspects from Bulawayo – Onias Mherekumombe, Coster, Felix Tachiona, and Mandhlenkosi Nyati – were taken into custody.
In a separate incident in Kwekwe, Shadreck Gerald Mbirimi (28) was arrested for vandalizing a Zesa transformer at Zororo Business Centre in Zhombe. Mbirimi, along with three accomplices still at large, allegedly cut PVC armoured cables and made off with the stolen goods.
Police have recovered the vehicle used in the crime and three sacks of stolen copper cables.
The police are seeking information on the whereabouts of the outstanding suspects: Brendon, Nathan Kangundu, and another unidentified individual.
The crackdown on copper cable theft comes as the city struggles to maintain power supply due to frequent vandalism and theft of essential equipment.
The arrests are a significant step towards dismantling the copper cable theft syndicate and restoring reliable power supply to affected areas.
-Herald