By SANFROSSA MANYINDA
A 32-year-old man has been sentenced to 10 years imprisonment with hard labour by the Ndola High Court for vandalising a Zesco transformer.
The court has described the man as an enemy of progress.
Boston Nkulungwe vandalised a transformer at Neelkant garage, the property of ZESCO valued at K20,000 on June 16, last year.
According to evidence adduced in court by Zesco regional security officer, Billy Bwalya, cables from a transformer were stolen on the material day.
Mr Bwalya explained that when he visited the scene, he found Nkulungwe, who immediately scaled the boundary wall.
He said Nkulungwe was however apprehended at a nearby township while hiding in a rubbish pit.
“Supply in the area was disturbed on those material day as result of Nkulungwe’s action,” he narrated.
But Nkulungwe denied having vandalised the transformer.
He told the court in his defence that he dealt in scrap metals, and that on the material day, he received a call to buy the metals at Neelkant.
Ndola High Court judge, Yvonne Chembe, in her ruling said she was satisfied with the evidence against Nkulungwe and that the State had proved the case beyond any reasonable doubt.
Ms Justice Chembe said Nkulungwe’s conduct was retrogressive as the vandalised equipment was critical to the development of the country.
“The convict is an enemy of progress because Government spends billions of kwacha to ensure electricity is distributed across the country,” she said.
She explained that the law provided 10 years minimum sentence for the offence committed.
The judge hoped that the convict would learn how to earn a living through hard work rather than vandalising public property.
