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The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company’s anti-theft and vandalism campaign has resulted in the arrest of more culprits.
The latest arrests were made yesterday during the ongoing joint anti-theft and vandalism of electricity infrastructure blitz.
At least 3 people with their trucks were arrested at the ZETDC Warren Park substation and were detained at Marimba Police Station.
The arrested people are Leonard Chinembiri aged 25, of 13716 Kuwandzana 4; Simbarashe Chinembiri aged 28, of 13716 Kuwadzana 4; and Shingirai Singota age 23, of 73 Kapfudzamombe, Mufakose.
The trio is suspected of illegal practices on national electricity infrastructure, an act deemed as economic sabotage according to the Electricity Act, Chapter 13 Section 60 (a) 1 &2. These activities include not observing stipulated way-leave regulations like digging around electricity infrastructure, that is, collecting soil and sand from the environment surrounding electricity infrastructure, destruction, and theft of electricity cables resulting in unplanned electricity outages.
These activities have serious consequences on national development and customer experience. The utility is losing at least USD 4 Million annually to these activities.
“The culprits are appearing before the court today. We thank the public, ZESA Loss Control, and members of the police force for reacting swiftly. We urge the public to desist from committing these acts of economic sabotage as we must all race towards the attainment of Vision 2030 where electricity is a key enabler.
“The company will not tire of conducting these blitzes working closely with national security forces and the community to make sure perpetrators are brought to book,” a ZESA stakeholder relations department staffer told Spiked Online Media in an interview.
In other news related to theft and vandalism of electricity infrastructure, some suspects were snatched by the ZETDC Loss control team in partnership with other security agents during an operation conducted at the Beitbridge border. One of the suspects is Siyabonga Ntombela, a male aged 32 years who resides at 32 Upper Rangemore in Bulawayo and Stand 270 Smith and Klein Road in Johannesburg South Africa. He is a South African national. The other suspect is Gift Ndlovu, a female aged 25 who resides in Siganda Village under Headman Lungiwe of Gwayi under Chief Mabikwa of Bubi.
The other suspects are a 30-year-old male named Emmanuel Mdlongwa who resides at 9063/16 in Pumula East Bulawayoyo; 28-year-old Aleck Maseko of 3489 Gwabalanda in Bulawayo; 24-year-old Proud Mkwebu of 176/2 Old Magwegwe in Bulawayo; a guy identified as Nomathamsanqa; and a 24-year-old female named Ncube of 1814 Burombo Flat no 3 Nguboyenja in Bulawayo.
The total weight of the loot stolen by the suspects was 1693kg.
Zimbabwe is situated at the centre of the Southern African Power Pool and hence plays a central role in the transmission of electricity regionally. Destruction of such infrastructure results in disturbances of electricity distribution in the region.