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5 guards arrested for stealing Econet equipment
2 hrs ago |
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Five security guards and contractors have appeared in court in Bulawayo after Econet Wireless' surveillance system allegedly captured them stealing batteries and cables worth more than US$77 000 from the telecommunications company's warehouse.
Genius Gwazhe, 27, Takudzwa Tsuga, 30, Roy Gwatura, 23, Joel Nyoni, 21, and Lesly John Gwazhe, 30, appeared before Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Lungile Ncube on Tuesday, facing two counts of unlawful entry and theft. All five pleaded guilty.
Prosecutor Mufaro Ndirayire told the court that four of the accused were employed by Crush Security and Suburban Security to protect Econet's premises along J.M.N. Nkomo and Connaught Avenue in Bulawayo. The fifth was employed by Greenland Scrappers, which had been contracted to receive and dispatch materials for Econet.
The court heard that, on an unknown date between May 2026 and October 16, 2026, the accused allegedly conspired to steal from the company, taking advantage of their access to the warehouse.
They allegedly stole batteries and a Site Camp Support component valued at US$150, with the total value of the property under the first count put at US$67 207,60.
Investigations by Econet's security team, supported by CCTV footage, led to the suspects' arrest and the recovery of nine ZTE batteries and the Site Camp Support component valued at US$30 325,92.
In the second count, the court heard that the accused allegedly returned to the warehouse at night on October 16, 2026, and used duplicate keys to unlock the main sliding gate.
They allegedly stole drums of DC cables valued at US$2 500 each, together with three cable cut-offs measuring 41 metres, 25 metres and 10,3 metres, valued at US$200.
The total value of the property stolen under the second count was US$10 200, of which goods worth US$5 200 were recovered. Two sealed cable drums and two cable lengths measuring 41 metres and 25 metres were recovered.
The five accused are expected to return to court on Thursday for sentencing.
Genius Gwazhe, 27, Takudzwa Tsuga, 30, Roy Gwatura, 23, Joel Nyoni, 21, and Lesly John Gwazhe, 30, appeared before Bulawayo Regional Magistrate Lungile Ncube on Tuesday, facing two counts of unlawful entry and theft. All five pleaded guilty.
Prosecutor Mufaro Ndirayire told the court that four of the accused were employed by Crush Security and Suburban Security to protect Econet's premises along J.M.N. Nkomo and Connaught Avenue in Bulawayo. The fifth was employed by Greenland Scrappers, which had been contracted to receive and dispatch materials for Econet.
The court heard that, on an unknown date between May 2026 and October 16, 2026, the accused allegedly conspired to steal from the company, taking advantage of their access to the warehouse.
They allegedly stole batteries and a Site Camp Support component valued at US$150, with the total value of the property under the first count put at US$67 207,60.
In the second count, the court heard that the accused allegedly returned to the warehouse at night on October 16, 2026, and used duplicate keys to unlock the main sliding gate.
They allegedly stole drums of DC cables valued at US$2 500 each, together with three cable cut-offs measuring 41 metres, 25 metres and 10,3 metres, valued at US$200.
The total value of the property stolen under the second count was US$10 200, of which goods worth US$5 200 were recovered. Two sealed cable drums and two cable lengths measuring 41 metres and 25 metres were recovered.
The five accused are expected to return to court on Thursday for sentencing.
Source - The Chronicle
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