Ten years in jail for stealing Zesa transformer oil
May 19, 2013 in Local, News
CHIPINGE — Two notorious oil dealers, who have been wreaking havoc in and
around Chipinge draining electricity transformer oil, finally met their fate
last week when they were jailed for an effective 10 years.
REPORT BY OUR CORRESPONDENT
The duo, Michael Mudzamiri and Phillip Mandizvidza appeared before Chipinge
magistrate Makamera Waini facing charges of contravening Section 6 of the
Electricity Act.
The State led by prosecutor Thembalami Dhliwayo heard that on April 2, the
two drained 110 litres of oil from a Zesa 33kv transformer near Gaza in
Chipinge. This act resulted in a major power blackout in the area on the day
in question.
Testifying in court, police detective constable Fanuel Nyamutsa, told the
court that the accused persons voluntarily led them to the transformer and
even demonstrated how they drained the oil.
He further revealed that the accused showed them the other five
transformers, which they successfully drained without being apprehended by
the police. However, in their defence both the accused persons denied the
charges and told the court that they admitted to the offence after police
officers assaulted them.
But magistrate, Waini, threw away their defence saying no medical report was
ever produced as evidence to buttress their allegations and convicted the
two due to overwhelming evidence.
Vandalism of Zesa equipment is on the surge in Manicaland province.
This has been attributed to the high unemployment rate in the country and
high demand of copper cables in neighbouring countries such as Mozambique
and South Africa where prices are reported to be lucrative.