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Lovemore Meya Court Reporter
A Harare man was yesterday sentenced to a 10-year prison term after he was convicted of stealing a 20-kilometre stretch of TelOne copper weld wires worth $40 000.

Farai Rugara (41) of Chinamano Extension in Epworth was with his sister Kundai Mashipe of the same area when he committed the offence.

Mashipe is still at large. The court heard that on the dates ranging from June 1 to 15, the pair hatched a plan to vandalise TelOne copper weld wires in Beatrice, along the Harare-Masvingo highway.

Prosecutor Mr Norman Koropi told the court that a report was made to the police of the theft.

On June 16 at around 7pm, the TelOne alarm system alerted the security department of the disturbances along the same area.

One Lazarus Chipiyo, who was on duty, immediately informed the police who launched a joint patrol.

hile at the scene, the team found the pair carrying some sacks.

The police demanded to search the contents of the sacks and discovered the copper, allegedly belonging to TelOne.

They were also found in possession of a pair of pliers leading to their arrest but Mashipe later escaped.

During interrogation, Rugara admitted to stealing the wires and said this was their third attempt.

On the following day, police went to the pair’s house where they recovered 54 hangers, three metal sprayers and 1,65kg of copper weld valued at $63.

Rugara denied charges of contravening Section 89 (4) (b) of the Postal and Telecommunication Services Act (Chapter 12:05) when he appeared before Chitungwiza magistrate Mrs Marehwanazvo Gofa.

He said he was in the business of selling clothes.

Mrs Gofa sentenced him to a mandatory 10-year prison term.