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Herald Reporter

Theft and vandalism of national infrastructure is economic sabotage and an attack on the Government’s efforts to achieve an upper middle income economy by 2030 and is tantamount to treason, Mashonaland Central Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Monica Mavhunga has said.

Vandalism and theft of Zesa, TelOne and National Railways of Zimbabwe infrastructure has become an organised crime.

The crime is bleeding the economy of millions of dollars in hard currency as most of the infrastructure is imported and expensive to replace.

This year, the country has experienced a sharp increase in theft and vandalism of national infrastructure.

Currently the mandatory sentence for copper cable theft is 10 years, but the Copper Control Amendment Bill approved by Cabinet will increase the mandatory sentence to 20 years once enacted.

Zesa has lost US$1,5 million this year through 535 cases of copper cable and transformer theft or vandalism.

Last year, TelOne lost US$$779 000 potential revenue and US$808 000 towards equipment replacement due to 333 cases of network theft and vandalism.

This year the parastatal lost US$217 000 potential revenue and US$306 000 towards equipment replacement with 71 000 customers affected last year and 22 000 this year.

NRZ borrowed US$10 million, but is now lagging behind due to vandalism.

To this end, the Zimbabwe Republic Police partnered with TelOne, Zesa and NRZ to launch an anti-vandalism campaign in Glendale yesterday to reach out to the people.

A resident, Ms Memory James, said some of the vandalism is done by community members who take TelOne cables for use as a washing line or to tie tomato plants.

“Inasmuch as we are losing transformers and irrigation infrastructure to thieves, we also see community members vandalising TelOne line for use as a washing line or on tomato plants,” she said.

“We failed to plant winter wheat due to vandalism of our irrigation infrastructure. We don’t have adequate guards and the thieves come during the night.

“We also experience an increase in theft during the rainy season. 

“As a community we appeal to the police to resume night patrols in farming areas.”

Minister Mavhunga said: “It is disheartening to note these major setbacks come while the Government is in a drive to realise an upper middle income by 2030.

“Mining and farming activities which are key in the development agenda are being affected due to electricity and communication blackouts.

“The winter wheat crop has not been spared. These are works of economic saboteurs who are bent on disrupting Government’s determination to improve people’s livelihood.

“This is an act of treason which only deserves deterrent measures like incarceration without option of fine.”

Minister Mavhunga said collectively, people were responsible for the development of the nation, as President Mnangagwa always says, “nyika inovakwa nevene vayo”.

She said it was unfortunate that others were doing the opposite by stealing and vandalising national infrastructure.

Officer commanding police Mashonaland Central Commissioner Wiklef Makamache said Vision 2030 and National Development Strategy 1 were under attack from wanton theft and vandalism of national infrastructure.

The police buttressed NDS1 by coming up with a strategic plan, Horizon 2025, which is also suffering the same fate due to unscrupulous people.

“Bindura is the most affected in the province followed by Mazowe, Guruve and Mt Darwin. Moving at this rate we are destined for a national disaster,” he said.

“The alarming level of this menace has led us to believe that persons behind the vice are not only doing it for monetary gain but have a hidden agenda of economic sabotage.”

Commissioner Makamache said remote areas were hard hit by the thefts.

He advised the public to be wary of people who loiter in their areas and unfamiliar vehicles. 

“Promptly check the status of your transformers when you experience unexpected electricity blackout,” he said. 

“Suspicious individuals and vehicle must be reported to the police within your area. Reactivate crime consultative committees and neighbourhood watch if they are defunct.

“No police force in the world has been able to police its nation without the community.”