Odzi cable thief in court

A 27-YEAR-OLD Rusape man was hauled before a Mutare court on allegations of stealing armoured electricity cables from a farm in Nyamajura, Odzi, together with two other accomplices who are on the run.

Samson Kariwa of Vengere was not asked to plead when he appeared before provincial magistrate, Mr Tendai Mahwe, facing charges of contravening Section 60A(3)(b) as read with Subsection 4 of the Electricity Amendment Act, Chapter 13;19.

Public prosecutor, Mr Tiriwamambo Kangai, said the offence was committed on January 22. “The accused persons and two other accomplices who are still at large hatched a plan to cut and steal electricity armoured cable from Nyamajura area. The suspects went to Farmers Development Trust Farm where they met two other unknown accomplices from that area.

“The accused persons cut an electricity armoured cable measuring about 48 meters which supply power to the farm water pump,” said Mr Kangai. The following morning, the informant, Mr Bindiko Moyo (43) was informed by his security guard about the stolen cable.

Mr Moyo quickly reported the case to CID Minerals, Fauna and Flora Unit in Mutare.

On the same day at around 10am, detectives attended the scene in the company of loss control officers from ZETDC Mutare.

Upon arrival, detectives inspected the scene and discovered that the cable had been pulled into a nearby bush. During the scene inspection, detectives also found shells of the armoured cable which were piled in the bush about 30 meters from where the cable was cut. Further searches were made and at that point detectives heard voices of people coming from the bush. The cops advanced towards the voices and they saw the accused persons busy removing the shells of the armoured cable with knives.

Upon noticing that they were being tracked, the suspects fled in different directions, but Kariwa was arrested with the help of villagers.

During interviews, Kariwa said he was in the company of Farai Chinyanga and Naison Njaike when they committed the offence.

The detectives also recovered a black Okapi knife, two shifting spanners, three pliers, a spanner, hacksaw, three satchels, five pairs of trousers and three jackets at the scene.

Kariwa also told the cops that he was working for Wellington Chinyara who had promised to pay him US$20 after delivering the cable.