20 years imprisonment for stealing TelOne drop wires, electrical copper cable

Two men from Mutare have each been sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of cable theft, as authorities grapple with the growing threat of vandalism to Zimbabwe’s public infrastructure.

The Mutare Magistrates’ Court handed down the sentences to Clive Mupare (33) and Donald Chatora (26), both of Chikanga 2, following their arrest earlier this month. On 4 October, the pair were caught stealing an electrical earth copper cable while digging a trench at a construction site in Chikanga 2.

Police later apprehended them near TM Chikanga 2, recovering about 9 metres of electrical earth copper wire, 12 metres of TelOne drop wires, and burglary tools valued at US$250.

Each man was sentenced to 10 years for theft of electrical copper cable and a further 10 years for theft of TelOne drop wires, bringing the total to 20 years apiece.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the ruling, warning that vandalism and theft of utility infrastructure carry severe consequences. It stressed that such crimes disrupt essential services, undermine economic development and compromise community safety.