Byo man hoards over a ton of stolen copper cables
Mabel Khumalo
In a major bust, police have apprehended 36-year-old Themba Ndebele after uncovering a staggering stockpile of stolen copper cables exceeding one ton in weight. The haul, meticulously packed into 34 sacks, included vital transformer coils and overhead distribution lines – the very lifeblood of Bulawayo’s electricity grid.
Ndebele, employed by a local Kelvin company, allegedly accumulated this illicit treasure trove throughout January, concealing it on his employer’s premises. Acting on a tip from vigilant citizens, police swooped in, arresting Ndebele and charging him under the Electricity Act for possessing stolen materials critical to the city’s power supply.
“This arrest is a testament to the power of community,” declared Bulawayo Police Spokesperson Abednico Ncube. “We urge all residents to join forces with us in combating this copper cable theft epidemic that plunges entire neighborhoods into darkness and disrupts essential services.”
This incident follows a string of similar crimes. Just this January, a security guard tragically shot and killed a suspected copper cable thief at the National Railways of Zimbabwe station. In response to this growing threat, police have joined forces with ZESA (Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company) and TelOne to launch a multi-pronged attack on copper cable theft, aiming to curb the rampant vandalism that cripples the city’s infrastructure.
The theft of copper cables has far-reaching consequences. Residents endure extended power outages, businesses struggle with production stoppages, and water shortages become a harsh reality. By dismantling these criminal networks, authorities hope to restore stability and essential services to Bulawayo’s communities.
