Three jailed for vandalising Zesco property

BUUMBA CHIMBULU writes @SunZambian THREE people of Lusaka province have been convicted and sentenced to 13 and 10 years for vandalizing Zesco property worth K57,230.13 Zesco Limited is pleased with the conviction and sentencing of Kennedy Mubili, Gilbert Zulu and Abel Edson Njobvu of Lusaka province for the offence of vandalism of public property with […]

Three jailed for vandalising Zesco property
BUUMBA CHIMBULU writes @SunZambian THREE people of Lusaka province have been convicted and sentenced to 13 and 10 years for vandalizing Zesco property worth K57,230.13 Zesco Limited is pleased with the conviction and sentencing of Kennedy Mubili, Gilbert Zulu and Abel Edson Njobvu of Lusaka province for the offence of vandalism of public property with a total value of K 57,230.13 in respect of both cases. This is according to the Zesco Public Relations Manager, Hazel Zulu. Ms Zulu said Kennedy Mubili and Gilbert Zulu were apprehended during an operation by the Zesco security patrol team when they were found vandalising Zesco copper cables at Substation 371 in Chinika industrial area, in Lusaka. “On Wednesday 13 January 2021, both Mubili and Zulu were found guilty of the offence of vandalism by the Courts of Law and sentenced to 13 years imprisonment with hard labour whilst Abel Edson Njobvu was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment with hard labour. “Members of public apprehended Abel Edson Njobvu of Lusaka province on 8th May 2020 whilst vandalizing cables at Old Independence substation which resulted into disruption of power in Matero East area,” she said in a statement. Ms Zulu regretted that Zesco had repeatedly warned that vandalism was a serious criminal offence under the Laws of Zambia, and if convicted, one could be imprisoned for over 10 years. “In 2020, Zesco lost in excess of K5 million due to vandalism of its installations,” she said. As a Corporation, she said, Zesco was elated with the conviction and sentencing of the three because it was confident that it would act as a deterrent to would be offenders. Ms Zulu however assured the public that it would remain committed to ensuring that it ‘made it easy for people to live a better life’ as it continued to work vigorously with other stakeholders to ensure that it bought vile acts to a halt. “We further encourage members of the community to guard public property jealously and report any suspicious acts around Zesco installations to Zesco Security or the Zambia Police Service, as such vices are retrogressive to the nation.