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Amos Mpofu, [email protected]
YESTERDAY, four people were arrested in Bulawayo on accusations of stealing copper cables.
Bulawayo Provincial Police spokesperson Inspector Abednico Ncube stated that the quartet was arrested on Tuesday, at three locations.
Ephraim David Mbeve (45), from Sizinda was arrested alone, while Future Nkomo (30) from Bulawayo’s Kensington suburb, and Stella Garai (31) from Mpopoma, were arrested together on a separate incident and Youngson Munyewende, 65, from JM Nkomo Ministry of Roads, was also arrested on a different occasion.
Insp Ncube said Mbeve was caught by a concerned resident driving by, who observed him cutting copper cable from a streetlight.

He said, “In the first case, on September 10, 2024, at around 11:00 am a male driver on Conway Road in Queenspark East, Bulawayo, saw Ephraim David Mbeve cutting copper cables from a streetlight with pliers. The driver stopped, confronted Mbeve, who fled, but he was chased down and apprehended. The matter was reported to the police, and a satchel containing copper cable pieces and pliers was recovered from Mbeve.”
Nkomo and Garai, who were arrested together, were caught by a security guard from an unnamed bus service at a transformer. Their unclear actions behind the transformer prompted the guard to search them, leading to the discovery of copper cables in Nkomo’s satchel.
Insp Ncube said, “On another occasion, around 12:30 p.m., a security guard at a bus services company was conducting perimeter checks when he noticed Future Nkomo and Stella Garai at a ZESA transformer. The guard approached them for an explanation, which they could not satisfactorily provide. This led to a search, during which 12 pieces of 35mm core underground armored copper cables were found in Nkomo’s satchel. They were then escorted to the police. Nkomo later led the police to recover an insulated wire cutter, used to cut the cables, hidden in the grass about 10 meters from the transformer.”
The fourth accused, Munyewende, a security guard at a garage, was arrested after it was discovered that 100 meters of 10-pair TelOne overhead copper cables were stolen from JM Nkomo Airport near Zuva Garage, leading the technician to file a police report.
The police received a tip-off that led to Munyewende’s arrest. His residence was searched, resulting in the recovery of 24 750 kgs of burnt copper wires. The total value of the stolen items was US$150, all of which was recovered.
Insp Ncube advised the public to refrain from making a living through stealing copper cables, emphasising that the law will not tolerate such illegal activities.
“Those who vandalise ZEDTC cables, those who consider doing so, and those who buy stolen cables should seriously consider pursuing other legal business avenues, as the long arm of the law is now closing in on them. The police also appreciate the community for their cooperation,” he said.