A 46-year-old man from Chipinge in Manicaland Province was fined $200 000 for illegally connecting electricity to various homesteads.
Tito Muyambo of Taona Village under Chief Mutema tampered with Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) power lines.
He recently appeared before Chipinge regional magistrate, Noel Mupeiwa facing charges of contravening the Electricity Act.
Muyambo pleaded not guilty to the charges but was convicted after State witnesses gave overwhelming and incriminating evidence against him.
He was sentenced to six months imprisonment which was wholly suspended on condition that he pays a fine of $200 000.
Prosecuting, Themba Dhliwayo said on 1 February, ZETDC loss control officers conducted some routine checks in Nyanyadzi in Chimanimani District to establish illegal connections at homesteads. Said Dhliwayo:
The ZETDC officials went to Makotomo Village under Chief Muusha and discovered illegal connections at one of the ZETDC transmission poles.
They approached the Mushango homestead and interrogated Annamore Ngonyamore who spilled the beans that it was Muyambo who had made the illegal connections.
The accused also erected another transmission pole which he wanted to use to connect power to other homesteads but no connections had been made yet.
Muyambo was subsequently arrested and appeared in court on 29 April for initial remand before facing trial this month.
He was represented by Edmore Khulumba of Mhungu and Associates. | The Manica Post