A 22-year-old man from Harare has been sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Harare Magistrates’ Court for vandalising critical electricity infrastructure belonging to the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company.
Wisdom Chityeza was convicted of cutting and stealing copper cables at Heany Road in Crowborough on 30 November 2025.
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According to the State, Chityeza went to the area and cut copper cables that had already been disconnected from a power pole using an unidentified object. While in the act, City of Harare security officers on patrol spotted him striking an electricity pole with a hammer.
The officers quickly alerted ZETDC’s Loss Control Unit, which responded to the scene and apprehended Chityeza. A search of his satchel revealed several pieces of copper cable—specifically 4 metres of 16mm and 4 metres of 70mm cable—valued at US$326.
In sentencing, the magistrate emphasised the serious threat posed by vandalism of power infrastructure to national development and public safety. Chityeza will serve an effective 10-year prison term.
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