A 55-year-old man from Rusape’s Vhengere suburb learned the hard way that free electricity isn’t always a bargain. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison for bypassing his ZESA meter, a move that left him feeling “shocked and electrified.”

A ZETDC loss control officer’s routine inspection revealed the man’s clever attempt to cheat the system. He had replaced the 16 mm² red cable with a 2.5 mm² cable, allowing electricity to flow freely into his home without being recorded. The court heard that this illegal modification was a clear case of “current abuse.”

The Rusape Magistrates’ Court handed down the mandatory minimum sentence, emphasizing the severity of tampering with ZESA infrastructure. The judge’s words were clear: “You can’t just tap into electricity like it’s a free-for-all, my friend.”

The ZETDC is urging customers to use electricity legally and report suspected illegal connections. With loss control teams on the prowl, it’s clear that electricity theft won’t be tolerated. As one official quipped, “We’re not shocking people into compliance,  we’re just enforcing the law.”

crime doesn’t pay – especially when it comes to electricity theft.
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