by Christopher_Makaza_
The successful amendment of the Copper Control Act will see a mandatory jail sentence of 30 years for those caught in illicit copper trading.
This was revealed by Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi during yesterday's 25th Post Cabinet Press Briefing, while presenting on principles to amend and strengthen the Copper Control Act (chapter 14:06).
"The amendments seek to institute stiffer penalties in order to curb the theft of copper and related products and thereby safeguard the critical infrastructure. In more detail, the Bill seeks among other provisions, to criminalise vandalism of equipment and theft of power transmission cables, dealing in stolen copper, all dealership without possession of certificate of origin for all the copper they deal in, and specify penalties for the offences. The mandatory sentence for those found dealing in copper will be 30 years," said the Minister.
Minister Ziyambi noted that the upsurge in cases of vandalism and theft of copper cables and transmission equipment across the country necessitated the amendments to the Act.
In February, a Hwange man was jailed 12 months after he was found in possession of close to a tonne of copper cables valued at US$11 602. 50. The copper was suspected to have been from ZESA electricity lines.
During the same period, a man was jailed 10 years after cutting more than two kilometres of Zesa copper wires in Binga.
Last year, thieves also vandalised electricity cable lines in Kamativi resulting in the closure of the Kamativi digital transmitter after criminals stole about 6 km of copper cables.
Stiffer penalties of copper thieves will send a clear message to would-be offenders, thereby minimising vandalism Zesa cables.
