Duo Sentenced to 10 Years for Vandalising TelOne Underground Cables

Munyaradzi Mashiri- Court Correspondent

Two men have each been sentenced to 10 years in prison for stealing underground telecommunications cables belonging to TelOne.

Lincoln Ambrose, also known as Tinashe Motsi, of Kuwadzana 3, and Blessing Mutsago, who has no fixed address, appeared before Harare Magistrate Letwin Rwodzi facing charges of theft of telecommunications infrastructure.

Prosecutor Loveti Muringwa told the court that on July 9, the two, along with an accomplice known only as “Magreens” who is still at large, went to an area near Holy Cross in Kuwadzana 3 armed with a pick and shovel.

The trio dug up and cut five meters of a 600-pair underground TelOne cable, severely damaging vital communications infrastructure.

While still at the scene, alert residents noticed their suspicious activity and managed to apprehend Ambrose. Mutsago and the third suspect fled, but Mutsago left behind a black jacket, which was later used to identify him.

TelOne officials alerted the police, who arrested Ambrose and seized the stolen tools and jacket. Further investigations led to Mutsago’s arrest.

The stolen cable, valued at US$60, was not recovered. 

The court stressed that the pair had no lawful justification for tampering with national infrastructure and imposed a 10-year sentence each as a deterrent.