The ManicaPost
Luthando Mapepa
Chipinge Correspondent
A 46-YEAR-OLD Chipinge man who tampered with Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) power lines by illegally connecting electricity to various homesteads was fined $200 000 for the offence.
Tito Muyambo of Taona Village under Chief Mutema recently appeared before Chipinge regional magistrate, Mr Noel Mupeiwa facing charges of contravening the Electricity Act.
He pleaded not guilty and was convicted after State witnesses gave overwhelming and incriminating evidence against him.
Mr Mupeiwa slapped him with six months imprisonment which were wholly suspended on condition that he pays a fine of $200 000.
Prosecutor, Mr Themba Dhliwayo said on February 1, ZETDC loss control officers conducted some routine checks in Nyanyadzi in Chimanimani District to establish illegal connections at homesteads.
“The ZETDC officials went to Makotomo Village under Chief Muusha and discovered illegal connections at one of the ZETDC transmission poles. They approached the Mushango homestead and interrogated Annamore Ngonyamore who spilled the beans that it was Muyambo who had made the illegal connections,” he said.
Mr Dhliwayo said upon further investigations, the ZETDC officials discovered that Muyambo had tempered with another ZETDC transmission pole at a nearby homestead.
“The accused also erected another transmission pole which he wanted to use to connect power to other homesteads but no connections had been made yet,” said Mr Dhliwayo.
Muyambo was subsequently arrested and appeared in court on April 29 for initial remand before facing trial this month.
He was represented by Mr Edmore Khulumba of Mhungu and Associates.
