Harare, (New Ziana) – Luckmore Mutsindiko (29) from Shackleton Compound, Lionsden, Chinhoyi has been jailed to an effective 10 years for theft of a power cable in contravention of the Electricity Act, the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) has reported.

Mutsindiko was convicted of the December 2021 theft by the Chinhoyi Magistrates’ Court.

The State case was that on December 31, 2021, Luckmore and his accomplice, Clackson Mutsindiko who is still at large went to Athens Farm, Chinhoyi where they cut and stole 30 metres x 50 millimetres x 4 millimetres core armoured cable which was supplying electricity from the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company transformer to the pump house.

They took the armoured cable to the nearby bush where they burnt it to remove the insulation. A security guard who was on patrol discovered the offence and gathered his team and tracked the spoor which led to a bush where Mutsindiko was discovered pulling the cable and he was arrested while Clackson managed to escape.

The value of the stolen armoured cable is US$1 125 and cables valued at US$20 were recovered. In a separate related case, the NPAZ said Bright Maturura (34) was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment when he appeared before the Nyanga Magistrates’ Court charged with contravening the Electricity Act for unlawfully diverting electricity from the grid to his tuckshop.

The NPAZ, in a post on X said sometime in July 2020, at Matema Business Centre in Nyanga, Maturura directly connected a power cable from the grid to his tuckshop.

On December 14 last year, ZESA employees discovered the illegal connection and arrested Maturura. His actions prejudiced ZESA of US$8 712.

Maturura’s sentence was wholly suspended on condition that he completes 420 hours of community service at Matema Primary School.

New Ziana