Botswana, Zimbabwe: Four Zimbabwean men appeared before Mahalapye Magistrate Court on 12th January charged with two counts of theft and entering Botswana through an ungazzetted point of entry.
The accused persons are 22-years-old Zwelani Ngwenya of Plumtree, Themba Dube, 28, of Lupane, Onaswi, Japan, 36 of Bulawayo, and Talkmore Munyaike, aged 37 of Mutare, all currently residing at Tsolamosese in Mogoditshane.
The quartet, acting together for a common purpose, fraudulently and without claim of right cut and stole 384 metres of poly-ethaline underground copper cables belonging to Botswana Telecommunications Corporation (BTC) valued at over P43 000. The offence was committed on 11th January 2024 at Thomadithotse ward in Mahalapye.
On the second count, the four are accused of entering Botswana through ungazzetted point of entry at or near Ramokgwebana Border in the North East Administrative District.
The accused persons are remanded in Prison and will appear again on 25th January 2024 while Police investigations continue.
Meanwhile, Police in Serule have intercepted a vehicle carrying suspected stolen copper cables, believed to be valued at over P51,000, belonging to BTC. The suspects, four in number, fled, leaving the vehicle, and Police have since launched a manhunt for the suspects.
Last week, a similar case was reported in which a 33-year-old man was arrested by the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality Metro Police on Monday, 8th January 2024, after he was caught red-handed vandalising streetlights and stealing cables on the busy N2 road near Bluewater Bay.
The arrest came after a vigilant member of the Bluewater Bay Community Policing Forum reported the crime to the Metro Police at around 3pm.
Metro Police Crime Prevention Unit members were immediately activated, and one arrest was made after the suspect was caught in the act armed with tools and some of the stolen cables.
Cases like robberies are very common nowadays in Botswana and Africa; Police are also investigating the matter.