Police in Mutare have arrested a theft suspect and recovered ZESA equipment worth US$799 000. It is alleged that Kingston Makina and his accomplices, who are still at large, stole 17-meter boxes, 58 breakers and electric copper cables, which were all recovered on the scene.
Makina who has since appeared before Mutare Magistrate Purity Gumbo facing vandalism and theft charges is denying the charges.
The State, however, alleges that alert detectives actually saw Makina vandalising electricity equipment.
He was remanded in custody to February 28 for trial.
The development comes after local power utility, ZESA, has claimed that some of the power cuts were as a result of vandalism to its property.
Zimbabwe already has an acute shortage of power due to dwindling water levels at Kariba Dam and ageing equipment at Hwange Power Station.
Resultantly, ZESA has been importing more power from Mozambique’s Hydro Cahora Bassa and South Africa’s Eskom.
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