THEFT & VANDALISM OF ELECTRICITY AND
ITS INFRASTRUCTURE – THE ZIMBABWEAN
STORY
• THANDIWE S. SITHOLE
• CHIEF RISK OFFICER
• ZESA (c/o ZETDC)
• ZIMBABWE
What is theft?
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:
Theft is the taking of another person’s property
without that person’s permission or consent, with
the intent to deprive the rightful owner of it.
So according to this presentation, I am saying
ZESA’s electricity and infrastructure are being
taken without its consent or permission. This being
done by Zimbabwe’s own, or external citizens.
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
What is vandalism?
1) According to the Collins English Dictionary:
Vandalism is the wanton or deliberate destruction caused
by a vandal or an instance of such destruction.
2) According to Webster’s College Dictionary:
Vandalism is the deliberate destruction or damage of
private or public property.
Coming closer to home, I am saying that there is wanton,
deliberate destruction and damage of ZESA’s electricity
infrastructure by our own citizens mainly.
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
What is being stolen or vandalised
and why?
Distribution transformers are being vandalised for their
copper windings, oil, bolts and nuts. Some of the clean
transformer oil finds its way into restaurants and is used to fry
chips
Copper conductor and cables are stolen and find their way
into South Africa, sometimes en route to China, from our
findings. There is a ready market for the copper.
Transmission pylons are vandalised for their members (angle
irons) and nuts & bolts. Tower members (angle-irons) find
their way on to scotch-carts and the nuts & bolts have several
places where they are made useful
Aluminium conductor, when stolen, finds its use on caskets
and door handles, as well as the three-legged pots that are
used on open fires.
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
The story …..
From 2001 to present, we have seen acts of theft and
vandalism increasing. Statistics have grown from
shocking to astoundingly alarming. In 2001 there were
135 cases countrywide, escalating to 749 in 2007.
A decade or so ago, only small items like miniature
circuit breakers (MCBs), service cables and meters would
be stolen. This was mainly in communities where there
were construction works going on. Locks were
introduced for the meter boxes to try and deter thieves.
Now a whole army would be needed to physically protect
our network from thieves and vandals!!
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
A fallen transmission pylon that was
vandalised for its bolts and nuts
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
Another Vandalised Transmission
Pylon-for its tower members
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the 5/27/2016
Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole
Vandalised Tower members/ Angle-
iron Uses
1. Angle irons used on 2. Angle-irons fabricated
scotch cart into a harrow
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the 5/27/2016
Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole
Vandalised Distribution Transformer
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
Recovered Stolen Conductor –
Stashed in a Tyre
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
Recovered Copper Windings
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
Transformer Oil in Containers at a
Scene of Crime
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
Fallen Distribution Structure After
Vandals Struck
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
Some Statistics….
The most recent statistics (c/o ZESA Holdings)
show that in in the first quarter of 2016 (Jan to
March 2016) there were 55 cases of theft and
vandalism of copper conductor
Within the same quarter this 2016, there were 57
cases of vandalism of transformers and theft of
transformer oil.
From January to December 2014, a total of 139
tons of copper was stolen from ZESA.
These statistics are only for the reported crimes.
The figures could be more!
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole
5/27/2016
Recovered Copper-neatly rolled up
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
Recovered Copper
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
More Statistics
In 2015 there were 2227 cases of electricity theft,
with a total prejudice/ value stolen of
USD 822 839-8
There were 256 cases of copper conductor theft in
2015. The value of conductor lost was USD 1 364
324-24 (that is, one million three hundred and
sixty-four, three hundred and twenty-four dollars
and twenty-four cents)
2015 had 67 cases of transformer oil theft and 75
cases of transformer vandalism, with a combined
total value of USD 796 625-24
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
Recovered Copper
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
Effects to the Electrification Process
Theft and vandalism are impeding the electrification
process in Zimbabwe.
New connections are being slowed down since
funding now goes to the replacement of stolen
components in the network.
The network expansion rate is really affected. More
of backward looking, than forward-looking!
All this points to, is reduction in revenue collection by
the organisation
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
Effects to the Country’s Economy
Electricity (its presence) drives the economy.
The absence of electricity affects both agriculture
and industry and these two are the drivers of our
Zimbabwe.
Thus theft and vandalism of electricity and the
electricity infrastructure equate to serious economic
sabotage.
If tried and convicted in our courts, criminals are
now getting a minimum of ten years imprisonment.
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
Another vandalised transformer
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
A Football Pitch-size Ground full of
Vandalised Transformers at ZESA’s
Central Stores
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
Copper Recovered on 04 May 2016 –Stashed in a
Reserve Fuel Tank of a Haulage Truck
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the 5/27/2016
Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole
Tools of the Trade
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the 5/27/2016
Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole
Theft of Electricity
With the analogue, Ferraris meters, people would try
to slow them down a little by using magnets on the
turning discs. This was theft of electricity, but not of
the magnitude we now have.
With the advent of the prepaid meters, theft of
electricity has continued, with increased meter by-
passes.
By-passes where direct connections to incoming
power are made are also a common crime nowadays.
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
By-passes:
Above is a 2,5mm black cable used to
bypass the load and the supply cables
at a house in one of the suburbs
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
Direct,
unsafe
connection
at the pole,
before the
meter
Theft of Electricity
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
Meter By-pass (the black flexi-
cable)
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
Another Meter By-pass –Underneath the
Terminal Cover
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the 5/27/2016
Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole
Some Deterrences to would-be thieves
and vandals
Zimbabwe’s Electricity Act 13:19 had an amendment
4 of 2010 put in place. Minimum sentences for
proven cases are now ten years.
Internally within the company’s system there are
punitive charges loaded on clients who tamper with
the meters (attracting as much as USD 700 or more
in some cases). We call these charges WOCIs
Some communities are now getting together to fund
the protection of their essential transformers.
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
A Deterrent in the Community
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
Protected Pole-mounted Transformer
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
Client Initiative
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
Protected Transformer
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
Personal Experience
Working on tip-offs, between April and May 2011, I and one of
my officers, assisted by officers from ZRP Minerals and
Boarder Control Unit, waylaid four trucks, carrying copper,
coming from Malawi to South Africa, via Mozambique and
Zimbabwe.
The four trucks (3 haulage and one 2-tonner) had a combined
total of 17.6 tons of copper. The copper was cut into small
lengths and stashed into bags to look like wheat or maize bran.
In our Zimbabwean courts it was difficult to prove that the
copper was ours, so the trucks and suspects were extradited to
Malawi.
Six of us (2 from ZETDC and 4 ZRP officers) went to testify in
Malawi in August/ September 2013
The cases are still to be concluded. One of the suspects skipped
bail and left the country, so Malawian Police are still lying in
wait for him.
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
Malawian Truck with Copper
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
Bags of Maize Bran Mixed with Bags of
Copper
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
Bags of Copper Conductor from One of
the Malawian Trucks
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
One of the Haulage Trucks With
Bags of Copper in Container
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
More Experiences….
During the week 16 to 22 August 2015, a few weeks
before the PIESA Conference in Zimbabwe, in
September 2015, our own PIESA (ZESA) Board
Chairman, Eng. Bukhosi Siso had the feeder to his
house vandalised and two spans of overhead copper
conductor stolen on one of the nights. Unfortunately
this happened while he was away on business.
The feeder was repaired using material which could
have gone to a new connection!!
This thieving and vandalising is still going on in or at
several other places country-wide!
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
What is ZETDC (ZESA) Doing?
ZETDC is carrying out re-conductoring exercises countrywide.
Copper is being replaced by aluminium.
ZETDC (ZESA) held an Anti-Vandalism of Electricity Infrastructure
and Energy Theft Workshop on 8th July 2015. Various stakeholders
were invited.
At the end of the workshop resolutions were made and timeframes
given. These included
Lobbying for the amendment of the current Electricity Act 13:19 to
make possession of copper an offence
Coming up with new engineering solutions to help curb theft and
vandalism
Lobbying for the amendment of the Copper Control Act to include
the export of copper in its original unprocessed form. Copper
dealers are now smelting the copper and exporting it as ingots,
making it difficult to link it to conductors and cables.
Intensifying public awareness campaigns, opening the eyes of the
public to the fact that theft and vandalism slow down the
electrification process of the nation.
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
It is an African Story
I believe this situation is not unique to Zimbabwe.
Every one of us in our respective African countries
has a story to tell where theft of electricity and
vandalism of electricity infrastructure are concerned.
Maybe what differs is the magnitude, depending on
the network size and the sophistication of the thieves
and/or vandals.
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
CONCLUSION
Let us unite as Africans, in the
fight against theft of electricity
and vandalism of the electricity
infrastructure!!
If, or when, we win, then we know
our growth will be certain!!
Theft and Vandalism of Electricity -the Zimbabwean Story by Thandiwe S. Sithole 5/27/2016
