Two men jailed 10 years each over cable theft

Rutendo Mazhindu

Zim Now Reporter

Two men have separately been sentenced to 10 years in prison for stealing TelOne cables.

The first accused, Admire Musuruudzwa, 24, appeared before the Harare magistrates court on charges of contravening the Postal and Telecommunications Act.

On August 10, 2024, the accused person was seen holding a white sack by a security officer in Belvedere.

The security officer stopped the accused person and asked him what he was carrying in the sack.

He tried to flee the scene but was apprehended by the security officer. A search was conducted leading to the recovery of 2kg of TelOne cables.

He was arrested and pleaded guilty to the charges. He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.

In a separate but similar case, the accused person, Wellington Mbaraza, 24, of no fixed abode was brought before the Harare magistrates’ court facing charges of contravening the Postal and Telecommunications Act.

It is alleged that on August 9, 2024, the accused person hatched a pan to steal TelOne drop wires along Mdliwane Cresent Belvedere, Harare.

He used a stick with a hook to pull and cut the wires. He rolled the wires into six bundles which he packed in a white sack.

He was caught during the act by a caretaker who apprehended him and recovered the drop wires.

The recovered drop wires weighed 3kg and are valued at US$150.

He was found guilty and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.