The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has urged the Government regulate the trade in scrap metal to curb vandalism of the railway network.
The parastatal says it has spent nearly US$1 million replacing equipment and rail components vandalised by illegal gold miners or stolen by copper cable thieves.
NRZ public affairs and stakeholder relations manager Andrew Kunambura told <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/vandals-cost-nrz-us1m">The Sunday Mail</a> that thieves are also targetting ballast along railway lines.
Ballast is a layer of crushed stone or gravel that is placed on top of the subgrade and under the railroad ties.
It provides support for the ties and tracks, and it also helps to drain water away from the tracks. Said Kunambura:
<blockquote>
Illegal gold miners are digging holes and tunnels that cut across the railway lines.
The effect of such destruction is an increased derailments and accidents.
The NRZ is also experiencing theft of ballast along the railway network.
Such ballast is used to construct houses and some are taken with the belief of extracting gold ore from it.
This is particularly frequent on the Harare-Bindura and Shamva line, and the Kadoma-Eiffel Flats line.
The effect of such theft results in potential derailments and train accidents.
Due to the proliferation of scrap dealing, we have witnessed a rise in the theft of scrap in our yards throughout the system.
To ameliorate the dire situation, there is a need for scrap dealers to be regulated so that they apply due diligence when procuring such scrap.
</blockquote>
Kunambura said between January and December last year, NRZ dealt with 52 cases of copper theft and 49 related to the destruction of rail properties.
Between January and October, the NRZ handled 27 cases of theft and vandalism.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

NRZ Pleads For The Regulation Of Scrap Metal Dealers

The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) says it has spent nearly US$1 million replacing vandalised and stolen equipment and rail components, with illegal gold miners and copper cable thieves the main culprits.
NRZ public affairs and stakeholder relations manager Andrew Kunambura <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/vandals-cost-nrz-us1m">was quoted as saying</a>:
<blockquote>
The impact of the destruction of NRZ infrastructure has been costly in terms of financial outlays for replacing the stolen and vandalised materials and equipment.
It is estimated that the organisation has spent more than US$1 million to replace the material or equipment that has been vandalised or stolen.
</blockquote>
Kunambura said the vandalism and theft of the company’s infrastructure have disturbed communication and the smooth movement of trains. He said:
<blockquote>
Just like other utilities, NRZ has become a victim of criminality, which ranges from general theft of copper cables, theft of rail components, and wanton destruction of rail setups or formations, particularly the removal of ballast and unwarranted digging near and across the railway line by illegal miners.
The impact of such theft has culminated in train communication challenges and hindered the smooth movement of trains across the whole system.
</blockquote>
Most of the affected lines were Harare-Bindura-Shamva; Kadoma-Eiffel Flats; Gweru-Kwekwe; Gweru-Shangani; Somabhula-Zvishavane; and Bulawayo-Gwanda.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Thieves And Vandals Cost NRZ US$1 Million

An unnamed man who was conducting prayers in a bushy area near Greenlands farm in Umguza spotted copper cable thieves hiding their loot in a swampy area and notified the police.
Police in Bulawayo said the whistle-blower was praying on Wednesday last week when he saw the accused person, Tyson Ncube (27), who was driving a Toyota Hilux dropping two accused people about 50m away from where he was praying.
The two allegedly started rolling and hiding copper cables in a swamp area while Ncube drove off.
The resident who was conducting prayers stopped Ncube as he was about to drive away and apprehended him.
Ncube was interviewed by the police but denied any wrongdoing.
However, police officers searched the area and they recovered an orange electricity marshalling kiosk, a black electricity breaker, two cooling fans on the ground, and four by 50-meter ZESA underground copper cables which were hidden in a swamp.
The <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/prayer-warrior-gets-copper-cable-thief-arrested/">Sunday News</a> quoted the Zimbabwe Republic Police spokesperson in Bulawayo Province as saying:
<blockquote>
Police are appealing to members of the public to report all suspicious persons who might be dealing in illegal copper, and anyone found tampering with electricity equipment at any nearest police station.
We also appeal to anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of the remaining two accused persons who are still at large to report at any nearest police station.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Praying Man Gets Copper Cables Thief Arrested

A suspected thief has allegedly been electrocuted after a lifeless body was found in a structure that houses a ZESA transformer in Harare’s Highfield suburb.
<a href="https://zbcnews.co.zw/2022/12/07/zesa-thief-electrocuted-in-highfield/">ZBC News reported</a> that a huge explosion was heard in the neighbourhood in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
At that very moment, darkness plunged the area as lights went off unexpectedly, prompting residents to investigate the incident.
They proceeded to the transformer site where they found the dead body of a man with some tools next to it.
The suspected copper cable thief was apparently electrocuted before accomplishing his mission.
However, residents are worried they are likely to have a bleak festive season given the huge blast on the transformer that could be a sign of a serious fault.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) was yet to confirm the incident.

Suspected ZESA Cables Thief Electrocuted In Highfield

Police recovered 1 000 kilogrammes of stolen copper cables from the suspect’s vehicle after a high-speed chase in Magwegwe, Bulawayo on Tuesday.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson in Bulawayo Province, Assistant Inspector Nomalanga Msebele said the suspect, Linos Sithole, is on the run. She said:
<blockquote>
Bulawayo Criminal Investigations Department received a tip-off from members of the public that there is one Linos Sithole well known as Boss Boss who is involved in cutting, buying, smuggling and transporting copper cables to South Africa.
The CID managed to do a follow-up and located the said vehicle and a high-speed chase was done that led to the accused dumping the vehicle.
1000kg estimated copper cables with a strict value of R200 000 were found stashed in the engine, glove compartments, spare wheel and under the chassis.
… We would love, as the police to appreciate members of the public for bringing in such valuable information.
We also urge the public to report anyone seen carrying or cutting copper cables.
These are public utilities and Bulawayo as a whole is affected by the theft of these copper cables.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe Electricity Distribution Company, Acting General Manager Lloyd Jaji told State media that there should be a mandatory 30-year jail term for copper cable thieves. Said Jaji:
<blockquote>
We have lobbied for an increase in the sentence so that it is increased to 30 years so that it becomes a deterrent.
That is taking a bit of time to be effected, if the sentence had been increased to 30 years, I am sure the cases would be slowly decreasing.
Right now replacements of such equipment take a bit longer because we wouldn’t have the replacement conductor.
At times we end up asking clients to contribute to the purchase of the conductor and then credit their accounts.
In a majority of cases, we would be without the conductor.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/malayitsha-caught-with-r200-000-copper-cables-in-magwegwe/">The Sunday News</a>

Malayitsha Caught With R200 000 Copper Cables... ZESA Wants 30-year Jail Terms For Thieves

Copper cable thieves struck close to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s closely guarded official Bulawayo residence, plunging the State House located in Zimbabwe’s second-largest city into darkness.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson in Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, InspectorAbednico Ncube, said they are receiving increasing reports of copper cable theft. He said:
<blockquote>
I can confirm that we are receiving an increase in the number of reports of copper cable theft.
We are appealing to members of the public to assist police with information that might lead to the arrest of the suspects.
Theft of cables is affecting all operations in the city. Some have affected police stations, including the State House.
On January 20, we received a report of theft of 225m x 35mm copper cables in the Donnington area, and another one of 1 400m x25mm of overhead copper cable conductors in Sauerstown and Hillside on Sunday.
We receive such reports on a daily basis.
</blockquote>
Parliament is set to craft a Copper Control Amendment Bill that will provide for the imposition of a mandatory 10-year jail term for vandalism of cables.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/audacious-thieves-steal-state-house-electricity-cables/">NewZimbabwe.com</a></h4>

Thieves Steal State House Electricity Cables

The government is working on a law that will ensure that all convicted copper thieves will be imprisoned for a period of not less than 30 years.
Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa told reporters during the weekly post-Cabinet media brief on Tuesday that Cabinet has approved the Copper Control Amendment Bill.
If the Copper Control Amendment Bill become an Act, any convicted copper thief will be jailed for 30 years with no option to pay a fine. Said Mutsangwa:
<blockquote>Cabinet was informed that the Bill seeks to provide for the offence of vandalism of utilities through the theft of copper which is then sold on the black market.
The Bill makes it illegal for any person to possess copper without a certificate of origin for that copper.
In order to curb the theft of copper, the police will require anyone found in possession of copper to provide the names and addresses of both the seller and the purchaser, description and quantity of the copper and the reasons for disposal.
Convicted copper thieves will now be liable to imprisonment for a period of not less than 30 years without the option of a fine.
In addition, any vehicle or device used to illegally transport copper will now be forfeited to the state.</blockquote>
The theft and vandalism of electricity and communication infrastructure has been getting out of hand over the years resulting in communities living in darkness for years after thieves cut off power lines and blown up electricity transformers.

Copper Cable Thieves Face 30-year Prison Terms

ZRP has nabbed notorious thieves who were stealing ZESA copper cables and causing blackouts in some parts of the Sunshine City.
This was revealed in a statement that was released by the police which stated that the thieves were apprehended in Waterfall and Southlea Park in Harare.
Said ZRP in a statement:
<blockquote>28 JANUARY 2021
ARREST AND RECOVERY OF COPPER CABLES
The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms the arrest of four suspects for theft and vandalism of copper cables in Hatfield and Southlea Park, Harare on the 27′ day of January 2021.
Police officers received a tip off to the effect that vandalized copper cables were stored at house number 10 Goodman Road, Hatfield, Harare, Police made surveillance at the house and observed the suspects burning cables at the compost. Police officers had to jump into the premises to effect an arrest on the suspects Fransisca Chakanyuka (41) and Pritchard Muchenje (23) and recovered 2000 kg (2 tonnes) of copper cables valued at US$ 392 000-00.
In a related case which occurred on the 27 January 2021, at around 1900 hours at the Ushehwekunze Turn-off, Harare along Harare-Masvingo Road, two suspects Norest Tanyaradzwa (27) and Lindon Chikura (38) were intercepted while transporting 260 metres of armored cables and 2000 metres aluminum cables using a blue Toyota Toyoace, registration number AEI 6096, destined for smuggling through Beitbridge Border Post.
Members of the public are urged to remain alert and report all suspects involved in vandalism of key infrastructure as this affects the distribution of power in the country.
(NYATHI P.) Assistant Commissioner Senior Staff Officer (Press, Public and International Relations) to the Commissioner General of Police Police General Headquarters
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