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Crime Reporter

The police have intensified a crackdown against criminals targeting public utilities, which includes Zesa’s electricity transformers, railway infrastructure, copper cables and telecommunication boosters countrywide, and several criminals have received the mandatory 10-year sentences with one pair getting 30 years for multiple offences.

In a statement, Detective Assistant Inspector Rachel Muteweri of the CID said such cases had become a cause for concern as they were continuing to increase, prompting police to came up with strategies to arrest the thieves and vandals.

“Concerted effort has been put in place to account for vandals and the Criminal Investigation Department Minerals, Flora and Fauna Unit in Murehwa recently arrested Kudakwashe Jojo aged 28, James Leonard aged 37 and Shepherd Millicent Kambiri aged 23,” she said.

“The accused persons were charged with 15 counts of contravening Section 60 (a) of the Electricity Act Chapter 13:19 which prohibits the cutting and destruction of apparatus for generating, transmitting, distributing or supplying electricity.”

She said the trio committed some of the offences in Chidziva Village under Chief Chirinda in Maramba area during the period between January and November this year.

Detectives then received information and tracked them down before recovering copper                     cables.

“Further probing revealed that the trio was responsible for vandalism of 10 electricity transformers in Murehwa and Mutawatawa.

“They were also behind five other vandalism cases in the area. On November 11 2022 Kudakwashe Jojo and James Leonard appeared at Murehwa Regional Magistrate Court where they were convicted and each sentenced to an effective 30-year jail term for the 10 counts which they were jointly charged.

“They will be back in court for continuation of trial in five more cases together with their accomplice Shepherd Millicent Kambiri,” Detective Asst Insp Muteweri said.

She said in Kwekwe, Peter Machaya (32), Josphat Musariri, (42) and Peter Takura Kore (22) all of Mbizo, Kwekwe were also arrested for a similar  offence.

This was after the suspects were found in possession of 250kg of copper cables belonging to the Zimbabwe Electricity Distribution Company, Zesa’s distribution subsidiary.

On October 10, 2022, at around midday detectives intercepted their getaway car, a Honda Fit, along Maunganidze Road in Kwekwe where Peter Machaya then charged towards the detectives while armed with a machete.

He was shot on the shoulder and during the scuffle, Josphat Musariri attempted to flee but was arrested.

Peter Machaya later succumbed to the injuries and investigations revealed that he was a serial vandal who was also wanted by police for similar cases after he jumped bail in Kwekwe and Gokwe.

On November 9, 2022, Josphat Musariri was convicted after a full trial by a Gokwe Regional Court Magistrate who sentenced him to a mandatory 10-year imprisonment while his accomplice Peter Takura Kore was acquitted.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police would like to express its gratefulness to members of the public for their concerted efforts in the fight against crime,” said Det Asst Insp Muteweri.

“Let us all be alive of the need to safeguard public utilities and infrastructure.

“We also wish to give a stern warning to criminals that their days are numbered and we will not hesitate to use force whenever we encounter any resistance in the execution of our mandate.”

She said a 10-year jail term upon conviction awaits vandals of public utilities and infrastructure.