ZESCO employees jailed for stealing cable

 

THE Livingstone Magistrate's court has sentenced three Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) employees for stealing ZESCO cables to three years imprisonment with hard labour.

This is in a case Sianga Sianga, 40, Lawson Chimbwali, 37, and Likando Siyauma, 36, of house numbers, 538 Nahumba road, 2613/4533 Dambwa North and Libuyu Extension respectively in Livingstone, all are charged with theft by public servant.

On the date between March, 1 and July, 30, 2020 in Livingstone, being public servants of ZESCO as an Technologist, Electrical Technician and
linesman respectively jointly and whilst acting together did steal 333.6 metres of bare copper conductor valued at K133,051 which came into their possession by virtue of their employment, the property of the ZESCO.

In sentencing the trio, chief resident magistrate Exnobert Zulu said they should have thought about their families before committing this offense.

Magistrate Zulu said the loss of their jobs is as a result of them as being greedy.

“I know that you stole from the company that strives to give a service to the people.

The company suffers because of people who are greedy like you,” he said.

Magistrate Zulu said it spends a lot of money in employing people who are going to provide security to installations.

He said the trio must learn that being greedy does not pay.

Magistrate Zulu said in mitigation there was plea of longer sentences, it is not the courts that make the sentences but parliament, the court’s duty is to impose them.

He said there is need to deter people that would want to commit such offenses and also protect state installations.

Magistrate Zulu said it is for this reason that the legislature put a maximum sentence of 15 years imprisonment.

“Yes I agree that they are first offenders, public service needs people who will respect the law.

After accessing the evidence, I hereby sentence each one of you to 36 months imprisonment with hard labour,” he said.

Magistrate Zulu said the trio are at liberty to appeal within 14 days.

“Since you feel that you desire free things. Hope you will become better citizens,” he said.

Magistrate Zulu said the cables are fortified to the state and the truck is returned to the rightful owner.

In mitigation, the trio’s lawyers asked for leniency and asked the court not to impose a longer sentence.

End