The Musina Regional Court has sentenced a Zimbabwean man to 15 years imprisonment for tampering with essential infrastructure and illegal immigration. 

Shepard Munorwa (30) and his accomplice stole electric cables which interrupted basic service delivery on a private farm. They were caught by a security company. However, the accomplice managed to escape from the scene.   

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During the trial, the accused pleaded not guilty to the offenses. In aggravation of the sentence, the state prosecutor Jan Krijt submitted that the country is currently experiencing unprecedented levels of cable theft. The owner of the farm has suffered a loss of R500 000.00 in the past years as a result of cable theft and he even appointed a security company.

The Prosecutor further submitted that there are no substantial or compelling circumstances to deviate from the prescribed minimum sentence.

More charges for Zimbabwean man

Therefore, the court has sentenced Shepard Munorwa to 15 years imprisonment for tampering with essential infrastructure. 15 years for theft of copper relating to essential infrastructure and six months for illegal immigration.

The court ordered the sentence in count one, two, and three to run concurrently. They further declared the accused unfit to possess a firearm.

Also read: Three Zimbabwean nationals sentenced to Life imprisonment for farm murder

The National Prosecuting Authority welcomed the sentence and applauds the good work of Prosecutor Jan Krijt and the investigator, Sergeant Singo of Musina Detectives.

“We hope that the would-be offenders of these crimes will learn from the sentence”