THREE Bulawayo teenagers last week began serving their 10-year sentences for stealing copper cables.
Edmore Makusha, Henry Nyoni (both 19) and their 16-year-old accomplice were denying the charges when they appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Nomagugu Maphosa.
The court heard that on October 29 at 8pm, the trio in the company of Edwin Makusha, who is still at large, dug and cut six metres of the electricity copper cables in the city.
The court was told that the quartet was seen by Julius Kalulu, a security guard who was guarding one of the properties.
Kalulu reported the matter to the police, leading to their arrest.
On October 31 last year, Zesa Holdings engineer Murambasvina Mrimirwa positively identified the recovered copper cables as the power utility’s property.
The copper cables weighed 10,5kg with an estimated value of US$210.
According to Zesa Holdings, between January and June this year, the company recorded 777 cases of vandalism and theft of its infrastructure valued at US$1 million.