THREE Rural Electricity Agency (REA) employees have been arrested for fraudulently conning a client and allegedly stealing 400 metres of aluminum overhead cables in the Mazhou village under Chief Masunda in Zvishavane.
ALLIEWAY NYONI OWN CORRESPONDENT
Andrew Hungwe (36), Jonathan Mapuranga (40) and Chrispen Mhiri (30) appeared before Zvishavane magistrate Story Rushambwa facing theft of Zesa Holding cables.
It was the State’s case that on May 28, the three unlawfully took 400m of aluminum cables belonging to Zesa at Mazhou village that were intended to install a power line at Jacob Ndlovu’s homestead.
The court heard that on May 25, the accused approached Ndlovu and indicated that they were from REA and wanted to assist him install electricity since he was not covered by the REA programme.
The three are alleged to have instructed Ndlovu to buy poles which they indicated could only be obtained in Gweru where they would make an application to REA on the complainant’s behalf for installation and supply.
The accused went on to write a list of materials that were required for the full installation, including 400m of overhead aluminum cables and Ndlovu paid the required amount of money.
Three days later, Mhiri and Mpunga informed Ndlovu that they had delivered cables at his sister-in-law’s residence.
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Ndlovu got suspicious after seeing that there were no receipts and the material was not supplied in full, including a missing 2x200m aluminum cable and made a report to the Zvishavane police.
Ndlovu, through the assistance of police detectives, then lured the accused to meet him at his house so that he would make a top-up payment for the missing material and the three fell into the trap and were arrested.
The 400m cable was recovered and would be used as an exhibit in court.
The three pleaded guilty and were remanded in custody.
