By Davison Marenga
One of Zvishavane’s flamboyant businessman Kudakwashe Diza (43) and his companion Mark Tiweni (39) were recently slapped with a 48-month jail sentence each for stealing 810kg of aluminium cables belonging to Zesa Holdings.
18 months of the 48 were suspended by Zvishavane magistrate Archie Wochiunga as the power utility had managed to recover the cables, leaving the duo with an effective 30-month behind bars at Zvishavane Prison.
It is the state’s case that on an unknown day, Diza and Tiweni went to a house in Council Park, where the power utility was installing power cables and stole 810kg of aluminium cables.
The duo hired two Pick n Pay staffers, Tafadzwa Chitando (23) and William Banda (26), and their truck to go and sell the loot to Masvingo.
Luck was not on their side as their hired vehicle was intercepted by detectives at a roadblock along the Masvingo-Zvishavane Highway who demanded confirmation papers for possession of aluminum cables after Diza claimed they had bought the cables from Kenstra Engineering Company in Harare. The duo failed to produce purchase receipts, leading to their subsequent arrest.
Banda and Chitando were also arrested for assisting to load stolen cables but were later released and appeared in court as State witnesses. The cables, which were later identified by Zesa loss control officers, were valued at US$8 100.
