A Burma Valley man has been brought to court for contravening the Electricity Act after allegedly stealing 900 metres of aluminium cables from a Zesa power line.
Malvin Binde (31) pleaded not guilty to the charge of contravening section 60(3)(b) of Electricity Act chapter 13:19 when he appeared before magistrate Noah Gwatidzo yesterday.
The section says it is a crime to cut, damage, destroy or interfere with any apparatus for generating, transmitting, distributing or supplying electricity.
It is alleged on January 4 this year at around 10pm, Binde in the company of two accomplices, who are still at large, went to Blue Mountain Farm on Plot 3 to steal cables.
The trio allegedly used unspecified sharp objects to cut down the cables.
The court heard they cut down 450m valued at $2 500 and hid them in a nearby bush where they intended to collect later.
Keep Reading
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
However, when they got to the place they had hidden the cables, they established their loot had been stolen by unknown people, and so they went on to steal a further 450m-cable from the same Zesa line.
But, when they were moving the cables to a nearby bush, some residents in Burma Valley spotted them and gave chase.
The gang took to their heels, but residents managed to apprehend Binde on January 6. He was remanded in custody to January 25.
The State opposed bail on grounds Binde is facing a serious offence which attracts a custodial sentence, hence he is a flight risk. Lloyd Kurehwatira prosecuted.