By Fanuel Chinowaita
MUTASA, Zimbabwe — A 24-year-old man has been sentenced to 20 years in prison after being convicted of vandalizing electricity infrastructure in Mutasa, eastern Zimbabwe.
Innocent Mwadini, of Chirindo Village, was arrested on August 7 after an alert resident reportedly caught him tampering with a transformer following a sudden power outage.
Mwadini fled when he was discovered, but the resident chased him and effected a citizen’s arrest before handing him over to the authorities.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) Manicaland Acting Spokesperson Assistant Inspector Wiseman Chinyoka confirmed the conviction.
Police said investigations by the CID Minerals, Flora and Fauna Unit in Mutare established that Mwadini had cut a 70mm, four-core armoured cable connected to a 12KV transformer supplying electricity to the community.
Investigators also uncovered a second case in which another transformer had been vandalised and its copper cables and windings stolen.
Mwadini appeared before Mutasa Magistrates Court on August 28, where Magistrate Fungai Muringi presided over the case and Tinotenda Muzondo represented the State.
He was sentenced to 10 years for each count, resulting in a combined 20-year prison term.
Police hailed the resident’s intervention, saying the arrest demonstrated the importance of community vigilance in protecting critical infrastructure.
The force warned that electricity infrastructure vandalism has consequences far beyond damaged equipment, disrupting power supplies to households and businesses and affecting essential services.
Police urged communities to report suspected vandalism, theft and tampering with electricity infrastructure, describing public cooperation as critical to protecting infrastructure and supporting national economic activity.