Hwange man in trouble for copper cables theft

A 25‑year‑old man from Singwe Village in Dete, Hwange, has appeared before the Hwange Magistrates’ Court facing charges of stealing copper cables worth US$360 belonging to Kamativi Mining Company.


Lwiyo Sibanda, who was arrested on 7 February 2026, is being charged with contravening the Electricity Act. His case was remanded to 27 February 2026 for a second court appearance.

The court heard that on 10 October 2025, a villager walking towards the Gwayi Substation met Sibanda heading in the opposite direction. The villager noticed drag marks on the ground and, upon reaching the substation, discovered that two copper cables supplying electricity to water pumps drawing water from the Gwayi River to the Kamativi community dam had been cut.

The villager alerted a security guard, who reported the matter to authorities. He then followed the drag marks and spotted Sibanda pulling 30 metres of copper cable. When Sibanda saw the guard approaching, he dropped the cable and fled.

A short distance from where the cable was abandoned, the villager found a pile of firewood prepared for burning, suggesting an intention to remove insulation from the copper for scrap resale.

Police investigations later led to Sibanda’s arrest.