The ManicaPost
Abel Zhakata
Senior Reporter
THREE Mutare men are in trouble with the law after they were found in possession of 500kg of stolen ZESA copper cables with an estimated value of US$9 000 at a scrap yard at Murahwa Green Market in Sakubva.
The trio — Phanuel Manesa (43), Nigel Riyano (25) and Fungai Nhemba Biti (32) — were arrested on October 31 while in the process of burning some of the copper cables in a bid to conceal evidence.
Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Mutare District spokesperson Detective Sergeant Coleen Mbato said the suspects were facing charges of unlawfully possessing ZETDC apparatus without a licence as defined in Section 60 A (3a) of the Electricity Act, Chapter 13:19 or failure to give satisfactory account of copper as defined in Section 10 of the Copper Control Act, Chapter 14:06.
Detective Sergeant Mbato said on the day in question at around 8pm, detectives from CID Mutare received a tip-off that the suspects were in possession of copper wires at Murahwa Green Market in Sakubva.
“The informer told the detectives the accused persons were stealing copper cables around Mutare Industrial Site and disposing it at Murahwa Green Market. Reacting to the information, the detectives proceeded to Manesa’s scrap metal yard where they ambushed the suspects.
“The cops saw the three accused persons burning copper cables to remove the plastic coatings. After burning the wires, they cut and packed it into sacks which they hid underneath the scrap material,” he said.
The detectives pounced on the suspects and arrested them.
Approximately copper wires weighing 500kgs with a value of US$9 000 was recovered.
