A Harare magistrate has sentenced a 48-year-old Harare man to an effective 10 years in prison for stealing a telecommunication pole valued at $24 650.
Karakadzai Mwashairei, a Mbare resident, pleaded guilty when he appeared before magistrate Ignition Mhene.
Prosecuting, Shepherd Makonde said on 5 September 2021, at around 3 AM, a security guard, Rachiel Chikomba, spotted Mwashairei cutting a pole carrying telecommunication wires.
Chikomba was on duty at the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA)’s transport premises along Lytton Road when she witnessed the incident.
The court heard that Chikomba alerted members of the public, who assisted her to apprehend the accused person and recovered a hacksaw and two pieces of the pole.
Mwashairei was taken to CID Minerals Flora and Fauna Unit Harare.