TWO Bindura men have been sentenced to 10 years in prison each for vandalising electricity infrastructure after they were caught digging up an underground power cable.
Claudius Sikelo (27), of Section 7, Trojan Mine, and Foster Tsvekese Kamhaka (27), of Chiwaridzo 2, were convicted by the Bindura Magistrates’ Court of unlawfully damaging and interfering with electricity infrastructure.
The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) said the pair struck at about 0030 hours on June 25, 2026, at 2787 Aerodrome, behind Chipindura Primary School in Bindura.
The State proved that the two dug up a six-metre-long, four-core armoured electricity cable belonging to the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC).
Their bid was foiled after a resident heard suspicious noises behind his house.
“Upon investigating, he discovered the two offenders digging near an electricity transformer,” said the State.
The resident alerted neighbours, who pursued the suspects as they fled, resulting in their apprehension.
A hacksaw blade and hoe were recovered at the scene and produced in court as exhibits.
The damage to the electricity infrastructure was valued at US$420.
