Crime and Courts
Woman Jailed 10 Years for Possessing Scrap Copper Worth US$33
A 44-year-old woman has been sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Mbare Magistrates’ Court after she was found in possession of 7 kilogrammes of scrap copper worth US$33.56.
According to court records, police received information on 1 March 2026 that the woman was transporting scrap copper from Glendale, Zimbabwe to Harare with the intention of selling it.
Detectives followed up on the tip-off and tracked the suspect to the Gazaland Scrap Yard. When they arrived, they allegedly found her offloading a white sack containing the scrap copper without the required licence. She was immediately arrested.
The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) said offences involving copper are treated seriously in Zimbabwe. Authorities say the theft and illegal trade of copper can damage important national infrastructure such as electricity and telecommunications systems, which can negatively affect the country’s economy.
The court therefore imposed the 10-year prison sentence as part of efforts to curb illegal copper trading and protect national infrastructure.