Where is security when people are stealing copper cables?

Where is security when people are stealing copper cables?

Senator Joseph Chirongoma has questioned the effectiveness of the country’s security personnel amid concern over the stealing of copper cables.

Stealing of copper cables has been on the rise in the country since the turn of the millennium and this affected such companies as the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) and ZESA.

ZESA and NRZ are failing to provide services due to the vandalism of their equipment such as transformers and electricity lines along the railway.

Speaking in the Senate during the debate of the Copper Control Amendment Bill, Senator Chirongoma said it appears there is a professional company that is stealing the cables.

‘’Let me say that at Dabuka Station there were electric trains which ran on copper cables but these were stolen. Where are our security personnel when people steal railway lines and copper cables? It is as if there is a company that is responsible for stealing such equipment.

‘’Electricity is very important in the development of any country. In this Second Republic, we need to look at the development that is happening, particularly the Harare-Beitbridge Road which is now in a good state. Goods were transported through the railway system but now they are transported via the road system.

‘’Looking at agriculture, you find that some thieves do steal copper cables which affect the distribution of electricity on farms. The challenge is that even when the culprits are arrested, they are not punished enough. The sentences are not punitive enough.

‘’I am tempted to say that it looks like this is a syndicate that operates during load shedding periods because such activities mostly take place when there is no electricity. At the end of the day people end up concluding that it is professionals who know how to operate transformers and other equipment,’’ he said.

Copper Control Amendment Bill is good

Honourable Chirongoma said the Copper Control Amendment Bill, is a good bill that can help reduce issues of load shedding in the country.

‘’This is a good Bill, which I believe will promote agricultural production on farms and reduce load shedding periods in urban areas. We need to find out and understand where those who have copper cables got them from without licenses. If licences and certificates are issued, then this will curb the trade of copper cables.

‘’We have been watching television and reading newspapers and you hear stories of people being arrested in Beitbridge and other areas, our security forces should be vigilant so that this vice is curbed. Those who are caught should be prosecuted and it must be clear how they will be prosecuted.

‘’We need to determine what should be done to those who are caught. Ten years was suggested but I believe it is not enough. There must be an addition of years to the sentence because in the past you would find that there was electricity all over the country.

‘’I stood up to support this Bill which came at an opportune time. The only people who can develop their nation are its owners,’’ he said.

Where is security when people are stealing copper cables?