Four Harare men appeared in court facing charges of stealing underground TelOne cables in Waterfalls after residents allegedly caught them digging trenches in the early hours of the morning.
Silent Mushambi, 21, Takunda Mukwambo, 26, Allen Chirenga, 26, and Knowledge Choruma, 23, appeared before the Harare Magistrates’ Court charged with contravening the Postal and Telecommunications Act.
They were remanded in custody to May 6, 2026.
The court heard that the quartet allegedly hatched a plan to steal underground TelOne cables at the corner of Woodlands and Shavet roads in Waterfalls.
Prosecutors allege that on April 23, 2026, at around 3am, the accused rode bicycles to the scene armed with a metal mattock, shovel, small axe, iron bars, scissors, a knife, spanners, catapults, satchels and sacks.
They allegedly dug trenches and exhumed underground TelOne cables.
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Residents Happymore Musoni and Tinotenda Kereke, who live near the scene, were awakened by noises coming from the area and alerted other residents.
The residents reportedly confronted the suspects and managed to apprehend Mushambi while recovering the tools and cut cables. He was handed over to ZRP Waterfalls together with the recovered exhibits.
Detectives from CID Minerals, Flora and Fauna Unit later interviewed Mushambi, who allegedly implicated his three accomplices.
Police conducted follow-up investigations and arrested Mukwambo, Chirenga and Choruma, who were allegedly hiding at Mushambi’s residence.
The accused persons allegedly led detectives to the crime scene and made indications.
Police recovered a black mountain bicycle, a red and blue sports bicycle, tools used in the digging operation and 200-pair TelOne cables, which were seized as exhibits.
The recovered cables were weighed at the National Railways of Zimbabwe in the presence of the accused and were found to weigh 16kg, with an estimated value of US$3 952.
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