Copper cable thieves cripple key Lupane institutions

15 May, 2022 - 00:05 0 Views
Copper cable thieves cripple key Lupane institutions Cde Richard Moyo

The Sunday News

Vusumuzi Dube, Online News Editor
COPPER cable thieves have in recent weeks struck in Lupane, leaving a number of Government and private institutions including Lupane State University in darkness.

President Mnangagwa

President Mnangagwa also recently warned daring copper cable thieves after they stole cables at the Rochester Water Pumping Station in Nyamandlovu, affecting water supplies to Bulawayo.

According to the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), between January and May there have been a total of eight cases targeting Lupane.

In an interview with Sunday News yesterday, ZETDC Western Region general manager Engineer Lloyd Jaji said over the past weeks the areas that have been affected are Lupane State University (LSU), Magistrates Court, Zimbabwe National Water Authority pumps and Lupane residential areas.

“There have been eight reported cases of cable theft in Lupane.

Underground cable of various sizes but mostly the 70 millimetres, the approximate length being 600 metres with approximate value US$24 000.

Areas affected are the LSU Farm, Kusile Primary School, Magistrate Courts, ZINWA Pumps, Mzola Feeder, Lupane new stands and Lupane residential areas.

The eight cases were reported between January and May.

Two arrests have been made so far and cases are still under investigation,” said Eng Jaji.

Commenting on thefts, Matabeleland North Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Cde Richard Moyo described them as sabotage at a time when President Mnangagwa was pushing for Vision 2030.

He said what was sad was that the thieves were targeting developmental projects that were spearheaded by the President.

“This is the definition of sabotage, honestly our President is moving around and ensuring that there is development within our communities, spearheading a number of milestone projects but these thieves then come and target these very projects.

I think there is a need for communities to help the police weed out these criminal elements that are clearly affecting our livelihoods, something has to give rather than us just watching them reversing the gains of these development projects,” said Cde Moyo.

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