Danisa Masuku
POLICE in Bulawayo are worried about rampant theft of copper cables in the city which have resulted in loss of life and plunged many homes into lengthy darkness.
A police source close to investigations said they had noted with concern that almost every day copper cables were stolen in the city.
The source said last week on Monday 150 metres of copper cables valued at $900 were stolen from Luveve suburb.
He said on the same day 200 metres of copper cables valued at $600 were stolen from Ngozi Mine squatter camp.
Thieves attacked Richmond suburb last week on Friday and got away with 100 metres of copper cables and attacked another area in the same suburb and stole 700 metres copper cables valued at $4 200.
Last week an unidentified man was electrocuted while attempting to cut Zesa cables in Bulawayo’s Burnside suburb.
The man, who had already cut 80 metres of copper cables, was electrocuted when power was restored while he was busy cutting the cables.
On Thursday 400 metres of copper cables were stolen at Gumtree. A police report was made at Hillside police station.
The source said most of the cases were reported to Zesa officials and the police.
“ Last week 300 metres of copper cable were stolen from Nguboyenja suburb, Entumbane was attacked last week on Friday but we have not yet got the report from Zesa officials on how much was stolen,” he said.
Acting Bulawayo police spokesperson Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele said: “We are worried about the rampant theft of copper cables. Bulawayo has been hard hit by theft of copper cables. We receive such cases almost every day. We would like to urge members of the public to know the scheduled load-shedding times, anything outside scheduled times they should report to police or Zesa officials.
They should also report suspicious people who mill around Zesa power lines by contacting police on toll free NetOne number 110 or (09)885479.”
