By Respite Kaoma,
Police in Kitwe District have arrested six suspects, including two Chinese nationals and four Zambians, in connection with the theft of copper cables.
Copperbelt Police Commanding Officer Mwala Yuyi says investigations led police to Lian Yun Smelting Company in Chimwemwe, where most of the stolen property was recovered during a targeted operation.
Among the recovered items are ZESCO service cables and transformer windings, along with other household goods. Mr. Yuyi says the four Zambian suspects are known to police and have previously been linked to criminal activities.
He has warned that police will continue intelligence-led operations to curb cable theft on the Copperbelt.
And Kitwe District Commissioner Oncemore Ngonomo has questioned the effectiveness of the Ministry of Labour and the Zambia Revenue Authority in monitoring companies found using stolen ZESCO cables as raw materials.
Mr. Ngonomo says it is worrying that an organised company could operate without detection, noting that cable theft poses a serious threat to the energy sector.
Meanwhile, ZESCO Senior Regional Manager Mike Banda says the utility records between 30 and 40 cases of cable theft daily, with stolen copper often smelted into copper blisters.
Mr. Banda has called for stronger collaboration between law enforcement, communities, and other stakeholders to protect critical power infrastructure.
