Hwange (New Ziana) – Three Hwange men are thanking their lucky stars after narrowly escaping death via electrocution while allegedly attempting to steal copper wires from live overhead electricity transmission lines.
But the trio, Brian Jahani Nyathi(24), Michael Muleya (22) and Takesure Ndlovu (20), were not equally lucky to escape arrest by police for the suspected crime.
Matabeleland North police spokesperson, inspector Glory Banda said the suspects teamed up and allegedly tried to cut overhead electricity transmission lines at Chachachunda village in Hwange.
Unknown to the trio, the transmission lines were live at the time, resulting in two of them being burnt.
Luckily, they were not electrocuted, but were apprehended by the police.
Theft of electricity copper wires have become widespread countrywide lately, inspite of imposition of stiffer mandatory sentences.
As a result, the power utility, Zesa has reported huge losses from the vandalism.
Banda said the two suspects who were burnt were now in hospital recovering, while the third is in police custody awaiting trial.
A manhunt, on the other hand, had been launched for a driver of a truck who had allegedly been hired to transport the loot.
“Acting upon information picked from the members of the public, the police managed to arrest the three suspects. Brian Jahani Nyathi and Michael Muleya are currently admitted at St Patricks Hospital where they are nursing burns they sustained from the electrocution whilst Ndlovu is in police custody assisting with investigations,” Banda said.
New Ziana
