Staff Reporter

A Zimbabwe Republic Police officer stationed at Nehanda Station, Gweru who allegedly stole electricity copper cables from President Mnangagwa’s Precabe Farm in Sherwood Kwekwe appeared before Magistrate Samkelisiwe Gumbo on Saturday and was remanded in custody to 20 September 2023.

The cop, Constable Musa Mukuli is facing theft charges and contravening the Electricity Act.

It is said that Mukuli together with three other persons, Brandon Ncube, William Wurayai, and one Jameson still at large connived to steal solar panels from neighbouring  Brownland Estate Farm, Sherwood, Kwekwe on 14 September 2023 at around 2300 hours.

It is said the four accused persons went to the farm, took three solar panels supplying power to the borehole and hid them in a nearby bush. 

 The court heard that the gang was spotted in a silver Honda Fit motor vehicle registration number  AEA 6642 by the security personnel from Precabe Farm. 

It is said after noticing that they had been spotted the other three accused persons ran away leaving Mukuli who was then arrested. 

 Investigations led to the recovery of three solar panels hidden in a bush near the scene.

It is said a water pump attendant at Precabe Farm, Liberty Zunga (43) during investigations identified Mukuli as one of the thieves who escaped after stealing copper cables on 7 September 2023.

 The court heard that on 7 September 2023, Mukuli together with the three on the run, allegedly stole some copper cables from Precabe Farm pump house near Munyati River. 

 It was said that the four cut and took armoured cables connecting the transformer to the pump. It is said they then pulled the cables to a nearby field where they peeled off the copper cables from the insulation rubber and were seen by Lunga as he was conducting perimeter checks at the pump house. 

 Lunga it is said caught Mukuli and the two wrestled but he was overpowered resulting in the accused person escaping into the darkness.