Rusape Man Jailed Ten Years For Bypassing ZESA Meter
A Rusape man has been handed a ten-year prison sentence after being found guilty of bypassing his electricity meter to get free power. The lengthy sentence delivered at the Rusape Magistrates’ Court is a powerful warning to the public about the severe consequences of tampering with ZESA infrastructure, which, under the law, carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years.
The Shocking Discovery In Vhengere Suburb
The scheme collapsed when a Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) loss control officer conducted a routine inspection in Vhengere suburb.
According to Diamond FM Zim, the officer discovered the 55-year-old’s property had been deliberately rewired.
The court heard that the man had disconnected the 16 mm² red cable linking the miniature circuit breaker to the meter and replaced it with a 2.5 mm² cable. This illegal modification allowed electricity to flow directly into his home, bypassing the meter.
It meant no consumption was recorded, enabling him to use electricity for free.
Mandatory Minimum Sentence Handed Down
After his arrest, the man appeared before the magistrate and was convicted of illegally connecting to the power supply.
The court imposed the mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years in prison. Under Zimbabwean law, tampering with electricity infrastructure attracts this fixed penalty, leaving no room for fines or suspended sentences.
Section 60A(3)(a) of the Electricity Act [Chapter 13:19] reads:
“Any person who, without lawful excuse, … tampers with an apparatus for generating, transmitting, distributing, or supplying electricity … shall be guilty of an offence, and, if there are no special circumstances peculiar to the case … be liable to imprisonment for a period of not less than ten years.”
The sentence is one of the strictest punishments enforced in Zimbabwe and reflects the government’s crackdown on electricity theft and vandalism.
Community Reaction And Official Warnings
The ruling has triggered widespread debate in Rusape and beyond. While some residents expressed shock at the severity, officials insisted that electricity theft creates massive losses for the power utility.
The ZETDC has urged all customers to use electricity legally and report suspected illegal connections.
“This illegal connection allowed him to use electricity for free at his home. He was subsequently arrested and appeared before the Rusape Magistrates’ Court, where he was sentenced to an effective 10-year jail term,” officials reiterated.
The company confirmed that loss control teams are carrying out inspections nationwide, with more arrests expected as the crackdown continues.
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The post Free Electricity Turns Costly As Rusape Man Jailed 10 Years For Bypassing ZESA Meter appeared first on iHarare News.
