MARTIN MAWAYA
KWEKWE–Two men accused of targeting telecommunications base stations in a diesel and battery theft syndicate have been arrested after police allegedly caught them siphoning fuel from a generator in Amaveni.
Zimbabwe Republic Police confirmed the arrest of Stanely Chifodya (32) and Kudakwashe Mazvidza (26) in connection with a series of robberies and thefts that hit network service provider base stations in and around Kwekwe between October 2025 and March 2026.
Criminal Investigation Department spokesperson Detective Inspector Racheal Muteweri said the duo appeared before the Kwekwe Regional Court and were remanded in custody to April 7 for trial.
Muteweri revealed that the suspects are linked to a wave of thefts in which about 9 000 litres of diesel and four generator batteries were stolen from base stations.
“In one of the incidents on December 7, 2025, the suspects and their accomplices who are still at large, armed with breaking implements and a 303 rifle, proceeded to a network service provider base station where they scaled a fence, manhandled and assaulted a security guard before threatening him with the firearm,” Muteweri said.
He said the gang siphoned diesel from the generator and stole a battery before fleeing.
Police investigations established that during the same month the suspects allegedly struck several other installations using a similar method.
At a booster station in Mbizo 7, the gang allegedly siphoned 1 630 litres of diesel, before targeting another site where 938 litres were stolen.
They also reportedly stole 1 200 litres from a base station in Mbizo 15.
On December 15 at around 2am, the suspects allegedly struck again, assaulting security guards before stealing 540 litres of diesel and a generator battery.
Police said an attempted theft on February 12 failed after alert security guards confronted the suspects, forcing them to flee and abandon three 40 litre containers of diesel and 20 empty containers.
Another incident occurred on March 14 when the suspects allegedly siphoned 200 litres of diesel from a base station and escaped unnoticed.
Their arrest followed a police patrol in Amaveni on March 20 after officers noticed a suspiciously parked vehicle near a base station.
“Police observed the suspects draining diesel from a generator, leading to the arrest of Stanely Chifodya and Kudakwashe Mazvidza while their accomplices fled,” Muteweri said.
Upon arrest, police recovered a 303 rifle, 26 empty 40 litre containers, one container filled with diesel and several breaking implements.
Further investigations led to the recovery of two generator batteries and about 1 540 litres of diesel believed to have been stolen.
Police said the two suspects are now facing two robbery cases and eight theft cases, and are also charged with unlawful possession of a firearm.
A manhunt has been launched for four suspected accomplices, Washington Ndlovu, Takudzwa Hwaire, Mutsa Muzwarimwe and Regis, with authorities appealing to the public to come forward with any information that may lead to their arrest.
