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Cable theft hits water, electricity in Musina

VANDALS: An electricity transformer that was destroyed by cable thieves. © Unknown.
VANDALS: An electricity transformer that was destroyed by cable thieves. © Unknown.

Frank Maponya

Frank Maponya

Zimbabwean and South African police are working together to nab copper cable thieves after taps in Musina ran dry for a number of days.

"We are working hand in hand with the Zimbabwean police so that they can assist us in tracing the suspects," Musina police station commissioner Senior Superintendent Maggie Mathebula said yesterday.

She said the thugs, believed to be Zimbabweans, had stolen water pump cables from the nearby Limpopo River that separates South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Mathebula said the culprit was known in the area but could not be arrested because he had fled to his native country .

According to Mathebula some of the stolen cables were traced to a village in Zimbabwe but the suspects were not at home.

"The recent spate of cable thefts are an inconvenience to communities who have to go for days without water," Mathebulasaid.

"Imagine having to go to work without having a bath because some people stole cables that assist in supplying water."

Musina municipality spokesman Wilson Dzebu said yesterday the thefts were having a negative effect on service delivery.

He said residents in the area were left in the dark after thieves had vandalised an electricity transformer and stolen copper cables.

Dzebu said the municipality's technical team was attending to the water shortage problem after residents' taps ran dry on Friday and Saturday.

"We are in the process of registering a case of cable theft and malicious damage to property with the local police," Dzebu said.

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