19 November 2008
Maputo — Theft of electricity cables over the past two weeks in the Maputo suburbs of Triunfo and Costa do Sol have caused Mozambique's publicly-owned electricity company, EDM, losses estimated at 60,000 US dollars, according to a report in Wednesday's issue of the independent daily "O Pais".
First, no less than 3,000 metres of cable was stolen a fortnight ago, and on Monday a further 200 metres was stolen from the same transmission line. The thieves also vandalized six metallic pylons. According to EDM, importing this material from South African costs 60,000 dollars.
This comes on top of earlier losses from theft of cables and metallic parts in central Mozambique (Sofala, Manica, Tete and Zambezia provinces) between January and September which cost EDM an estimated 700,000 dollars.
The copper and aluminium cables and parts are sold to scrap merchants, or to artisans making pots and pans.
The telecommunications and railway companies, TDM and CFM, have regularly complained of similar thefts, yet scrap metal continues to be exported from Mozambique, without careful examination of its origins.
Pf/ (186)
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