By Panashe Divine Karidzagundi
Zimbabwe Republic Police have arrested five suspects in separate incidents of copper cable theft and vandalism of electricity infrastructure in Murewa, Bulawayo, and Pumula, as efforts to clamp down on these crimes intensify.
ZRP confirmed the arrests in a post on their official X (formerly Twitter) account.
On 28 October 2025, officers at a roadblock along the Murewa–Madicheche Road (73-kilometre peg) intercepted a Toyota Dyna carrying stolen copper cables.
The vehicle was driven by Johanne Kaswove, with Godknows Kutama and Ernest Sau as passengers.
A search of the vehicle recovered two sacks of armoured copper cables stolen from three ZESA transformers in Mutawatawa, along with tools used for theft and vandalism, including a bolt cutter, hacksaw, shifting spanner, side cutter, screwdrivers, and an electronic scale.
In Bulawayo, police arrested Thuthukani Ndlovu (27) and Melulekh Nkiwane (24) for vandalising a ZESA transformer in Cowdray Park and stealing 30 metres of four-core transformer copper cables.
Meanwhile, Ofen Tamuka (21) was apprehended by ZRP Pumula officers for theft of three 30-metre ZESA copper cables, with a bolt cutter and scale recovered from him.
“We continue to urge members of the public to report anyone found tampering with or transporting copper cables without proper documentation. These acts not only disrupt power supply but also cost the nation millions in repairs,” read part of the statement.
The arrests follow a rise in copper cable theft nationwide, which has caused widespread power outages and financial losses for the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA).
Police said investigations are ongoing, and the suspects are expected to appear in court soon.