Man Jailed for 5 Years Over Copper Cable Theft

The National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has scored a major victory in its fight against copper cable theft, with a 24-year-old man from Spencer Farm in Selous, being sentenced to 5 years in prison for contravening the Railways Act.

Douglas Dzingano was intercepted by NRZ loss control officers while digging up copper cables along a railway line on December 26, 2024, at around 11 pm. The officers recovered 5 meters of copper cables worth USD250, as well as a shovel and a pick.

The theft of copper cables is a concern for the NRZ, as it can cause disruptions to train services and pose a risk to public safety. The NRZ has been working to combat cable theft, and this sentencing serves as a warning to would-be offenders.