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Court Reporter
A BULAWAYO man has appeared in court for allegedly cutting overhead copper conductors at Igusu Railway Siding in Nyamandlovu.
Evans Dube (30) was arrested after being found in possession of about 91kg of copper worth about $1 137. Dube, of 7308 Pumula North appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Ms Gladmore Mushove charged with contravening a section of the Electricity Amendment Act.
He was remanded in custody to Monday next week.

Dube told the court that he would plead guilty to possessing 20kg of copper only instead of the 90kg but the State led by Mr Kudakwashe Jaravaza said it would not accept a limited plea because there was evidence that he was in possession of the said copper conductors.
Dube’s alleged accomplice, Simiso Mguni, is still at large.

The State would seek to prove that between June and September this year, Dube and Mguni allegedly proceeded to Igusu and Deli railway sidings in Nyamandlovu and cut overhead copper conductors, which supply electricity to the sidings along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls railway line.

Police in Bulawayo received a tip-off that Dube was in possession of copper cables and proceeded to his place of residence to conduct a search.

The court was told that police recovered 20kg of copper conductors and a bolt cutter at Dube’s house and he led them to Gwabalanda where Mguni lived.

While there, police searched the house and allegedly recovered 71kg.
Dube was arrested while Mguni could not be located and he is still at large.