By Charmaine Kwenda
An intervention by alert residents led to the apprehension of two Kuwadzana men, Lincoln Ambrose and Blessing Mutsago both 27, who were arrested for stealing Telone cables.
The duo were later slapped with the mandatory 10 year prison term that applies to public infrastructure vandalism and theft by the Harare Magistrates Court.
The two men’s arrest came following their interruption who caught them in the act managing to apprehend one suspect on the spot and recover the tools used.Police investigations later led to the arrest of the second offender,however the cables worth USD$60 were not recovered.Another suspect in the case is still on the run.
According to the NPAZ state, “llThe pair, together with an accomplice still at large, used a shovel and pick to dig up and cut 5 meters of 600 pair underground Telone communication cable in Kuwadzana 3 on the 9th of July 2025.Residents interrupted the theft, managing to apprehend one suspect on the spot and recover tools used, along with a jacket dropped by the second offender during his escape.Police investigations later led to the arrest of the second offender. Unfortunately, the stolen cable, valued at US$60 was not recovered,” the NPAZ statement reads.
The Prosecuting Authority has used this case to remind the public of the seriousness of public infrastructure including telephone and electricity cables emphasizing that the justice delivery system will not hesitate to impose stiff penalties on those who sabotage infrastructure.