Court jails copper cable thieves for 10 years each

Zim Now Writer

Two Mashava copper cable thieves, Prosper Mugova, 28, and Aaron Mutondo, 37, have been jailed for 10 years each by Masvingo regional magistrate, Bishard Chineka for the offence.

The two were arrested by police details in Mashava on January 9, 2023, after being found in possession of copper windings which they got after vandalising a Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company transformer at Boss Mine.

Police officers on patrol saw a silver Nissan bluebird vehicle parked by the roadside at night and went to investigate.

Mugova and Mutondo were found in the vehicle and after searching, police recovered three transformer copper windings, a bolt cutter and a black satchel with spanners.

Through their lawyer, Omen Mafa of Mutendi, Mudisi and Shumba Legal Practitioners, the duo argued that they were hired by two men only identified as Trust and Mhofu to carry the cables, whom they claimed to have run away when police approached their parked vehicle.

Innocent Mudzingwa prosecuted.