ZESCO Limited, in partnership with the Zambia Police Service, has arrested the Director and Operations Manager of Neelkanth, a local company.
The duo, identified as Anand Wadhwan and Raphael Mundeya, were apprehended following a raid that uncovered over four tonnes of Zesco cables.
The suspects are facing multiple charges, including possession of stolen property and dealing in scrap metal without a license.
According to a statement issued by the utility’s spokesperson Matongo Maumbi, the suspects are scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, October 15, to enter their pleas.
This arrest comes amidst a broader ZESCO operation targeting vandalism, theft, and other illegal activities.
Maumbi said the past week alone, the utility company has conducted numerous raids, leading to 15 arrests and the recovery of property worth over K397,000.
“A total of 52 cases were reported, leading to a loss of property valued at K1,353,876,
compared to 37 cases and property losses of K532,179.91 recorded the previous week,” Maumbi said
Vandalism was the major contributor, with 39 cases, a 30% increase from the 30 cases
reported in the previous week. Additionally, there were 5 cases of attempted vandalism,
and 8 cases related to other crimes,”
Zesco has also seen a surge in reported cases of vandalism and theft, with the number of incidents increasing by 30 percent compared to the previous week. The company has urged members of the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the authorities.
In a separate case, three men were convicted of theft and sentenced to two years and six months in prison for stealing Z property. The trio was caught red-handed and subsequently prosecuted with the help of ZESCO’s security team and the police.
Kalemba October 14, 2024
