Story by Fungai Jachi
TWO senior employees from the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) in Hwange have been remanded in custody over allegations of stealing property valued at US$3.9 million from the power station.
The accused, Tawanda Mhaka and Ruth Chiyani, are alleged to have orchestrated the theft of 15 electric motors, 48 tonnes of brass pipes, and a metal container from Hwange Thermal Power Station.
Their alleged accomplice, Hardlife Zimwenje, is still at large.
Allegations are that between August 22 and 23 this year, a truck was captured on CCTV at the Turbine Hall loading stolen goods, which included 15 electric motors, 48 tonnes of brass pipes, and a metal container.
The footage showed the items being loaded without proper documentation.
Chiyani, a loss control assistant, was allegedly responsible for overseeing the illegal loading but failed to provide invoices to justify the movement of the items, while Mhaka, a stores officer, is accused of instructing a boilermaker to cut an electric motor and a storage container to make them easier to load.
The court heard that the stolen property was reportedly transported in haulage trucks hired by Zimwenje, who is on the run.
The accused persons were both arrested on September 11.
According to investigators, the evidence against them is substantial, including CCTV footage and removal authority documents signed by the pair.
The accused persons are expected back in court on Friday next week.
