BULAWAYO – A Bulawayo man has been slapped with an 11-year jail term following his conviction for stealing copper cables from ZETDC, NRZ, and TelOne infrastructure.
Tapfumaneyi Muzarabani, 48, was the ring leader of a gang of copper cable thieves who were behind a spate of theft cases running into thousands worth of dollars of the public infrastructure.
He was convicted after a full trial for illegally possessing over five tonnes of stolen copper cables worth US$131,000.
The stolen property was recovered at a house in the city’s Mahatshula North suburb during a police operation.
The state proved that his illegal activities contributed to widespread disruptions in electricity supply, railway operations, and telecommunication services.
“Muzarabani was found guilty under multiple charges, including unlawful possession of copper and materials used for essential public services,” said the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).
In the first count, the complainant is ZETDC.
The court heard that during the period extending from year 2022 to March 2024, ZETDC suffered multiple theft incidents on some overhead copper cables, armoured cables and transformers in and around Bulawayo Metropolitan province.
In March 2024, detectives from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Homicide Bulawayo received information to the effect that Tapfumaneyi and his accomplices whose fate is not yet known were illegally dealing in copper cables.
“Detectives acting on the information identified the house and placed it under surveillance monitoring the movements and activities of the accused persons which led to the arrest of the accused persons and the subsequent recovery and seizure of a total of 6,550 kilogrammes of copper in various forms with a total value US$131,000 at house number 2024 Mahatshula North Bulawayo,” the court heard.
ZETDC identified 3,420 kilogrammes of armoured cables and overhead copper conductors as their stolen property which is used for the transmission and distribution of Electricity.
The total value of the recovered property is US$68,400.
In the second count the complainant is the National Railways of Zimbabwe represented by Knowledge Mazheke a security officer.
Prosecutors proved that during the period extending from year 2007 to March 2024, the National Railways of Zimbabwe also experienced some cases of theft of copper inter-poles, locomotive power copper conductors, copper cables and copper wires in and around Bulawayo Metropolitan province and made some reports to the police.
Investigations carried out led to the arrest of the accused.
NRZ identified 430 kilogrammes of locomotive power copper conductors and cables used for the provision of railway services as their property.
The total value of the recovered property is US$8,600.
The court also heard that during the period extending from 2020 to March 2024, TelOne Zimbabwe experienced some thefts on its copper inter-poles, telephone poles, signal copper wires and telecommunications copper cables in and around Bulawayo metropolitan province and made some reports to the police.
“Investigations were carried out which led to the arrest of the accused.
“TelOne Zimbabwe identified 100 kilogrammes underground telecommunication cables used for telecommunications as their proper,” NPA said of property that was valued at US$2,000
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