A Goromonzi magistrate this week jailed two men to 30 years and 20 years for stealing copper cables in the area. Gift Fungai Pakero (40) and Oscar Marufu, age not given, admitted to six counts of theft of

copper cable when they appeared before magistrate Mrs Mercy Chimbodza on Tuesday. Interfering with Zesa equipment, including power lines, attracts a minimum 10 year term for first offenders.

Pakero was slapped with 30 years imprisonment term while Marufu got 20 years. No portion of the sentences were suspended.

Pakero is still facing more charges in Harare after he was recently arrested while in possession of copper cables.

Early this month, police received information that four men, Pakero, Potyo Hilawo Mugwambani (24), Felix Kure (27) and Cain Boniface Mutemeri (34) were transporting stolen copper cables from Chegutu to Harare. Detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department Border Control and Minerals Unit tracked the gang that was travelling in a Toyota Ipsum and arrested them in Harare.