By Dickson Bandera
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has urged citizens to remain vigilant and report acts of vandalism targeting critical telecommunications infrastructure following the arrest of five suspects linked to the theft of underground TelOne cables in Harare.
According to a statement released by the ZRP on Thursday, Tinashe Emmanuel Guramatunhu, Tawanda Nyanadehwe (21), Tatenda Dzvova (25), Yusufu Banda (20) and Vincent Mangava (19) were arrested after they were caught cutting TelOne’s underground cables at Lady Stanley Hostel in Belvedere.
The suspects were intercepted by a swift response from the Police and a TelOne technical team, but they fled the scene, leaving behind a sack of cables. A follow-up operation led to the arrest of Tawanda Nyanadehwe, who then implicated the other suspects. In total, cables weighing 86 kilograms were recovered, along with tools used in the crime.
Acts of vandalism and theft of telecom cables are not just crimes against companies like TelOne — they are direct attacks on the economic and social well-being of every Zimbabwean. Stolen or damaged cables result in service disruptions that cut off families from loved ones, cripple businesses, and hinder essential government and emergency services.
In the digital age, telecommunications infrastructure is the backbone of our connection to the world. Schools, hospitals, security services, and financial transactions depend on stable and secure networks. When cables are cut or stolen, entire neighbourhoods can go offline for days, hurting productivity and costing millions in repairs and lost revenue.
As Zimbabwe’s leading fixed telecoms provider, TelOne plays a pivotal role in connecting urban and rural communities through landline, fibre, and broadband services. The company has made significant investments to expand its network countrywide, bridging the digital divide and ensuring that even remote schools and clinics can access the internet and vital communication services.
Through its fibre backbone, TelOne connects Zimbabwe to the global digital community, powering e-commerce, e-learning, e-government services, and the broader digital economy. Such national efforts deserve the public’s protection and support.
Communities are urged to report any cable theft or suspicious digging around telecom infrastructure by calling (0242) 703631 or WhatsApp on 0712 800 187.
