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Nokusa Masuku Court Reporter
A BULAWAYO man who masqueraded as a Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) employee allegedly illegally reconnected electricity at five houses in Gwabalanda suburb and charged each of the occupants $50 for his services.

Western Commonage magistrate Tancy Dube heard this when Shelton Khuphe, 28, of Ilanda suburb appeared before her yesterday.

Khuphe pleaded not guilty to five counts of causing electric current to be abstracted or diverted and was remanded in custody to June 10.

The court heard that Khuphe reconnected electricity which had been legally disconnected by ZETDC employees.

Prosecuting, Tony Kamudyariwa told the court that during a period between April and May this year, Khuphe approached Senziwane Ndlovu and claimed that he was an employee of ZETDC.

“He stated that he could reconnect electricity at her house which had been lawfully disconnected by ZETDC employees. Before reconnecting the electricity, he asked for $50 for his services,” said Kamudyariwa.

He said Ndlovu gave Khuphe $30 and he reconnected the electricity.

The court heard that Khuphe proceeded to Nerthur Tshuma’s house and using the same modus operandi, he connected the electricity at the house.

“He then went to Janet Dube’s house and told her that he was a ZETDC employee who had come to reconnect electricity at her house at a fee of $50. Dube gave Khuphe half the amount and he reconnected the electricity,” said Kamudyariwa.

He said Khuphe proceeded to two more households in the same suburb where he again illegally reconnected electricity.

Kamudyariwa, however, said the owners of the last two houses could not be located when the police brought the suspect for indications.

He said on Wednesday, ZETDC received a tipoff from members of the public that Khuphe was illegally reconnecting electricity in the suburb.

The matter was reported to the police leading to Khuphe’s arrest.