HARARE — Real Star Security’s Loss Control Manager has dismissed social media claims alleging that the company’s security guards were involved in copper cable theft, saying the suspects were instead intercepted and apprehended by Real Star personnel while allegedly stealing cables at Zulu Lithium Mine in Bulawayo.
Speaking to Hurumende News Hub, the Loss Control Manager said there was no recorded case supporting claims that Real Star guards had been arrested for stealing copper cables.
“We have no such cases of theft by guards,” the Loss Control Manager said.
He said the information circulating on social media had confused the alleged thieves with the security personnel who apprehended them.
“It was our arrest at Zulu Lithium Mine. We arrested,” he said.
The matter was subsequently handed over to police, with a formal report made at Fort Rixon Police Station under reference RRB 4944945, according to information supplied to Hurumende News Hub.
The accused was expected to be taken to court in Bulawayo on August 24, 2026, while the remaining suspects were still outstanding at the time of the update.
Real Star Supervisor Intercepts Suspected Thieves
According to an incident report provided to Hurumende News Hub, the incident occurred at the Main Stores at Zulu Lithium Mine during the early hours of August 21.
The report states that guards Thelma Siziba and Petronella Ncube were deployed at the Main Stores at approximately 6pm on August 20 and conducted their routine patrols.
At around 12:58am the following morning, supervisor Muchineripi Mpofu, Force Number 10145, visited the site while conducting visual observation checks.
During the checks, Mpofu allegedly spotted three men inside the yard carrying copper cables.
He gave chase, prompting the suspects to allegedly drop the cables and flee towards the diamond-mesh perimeter fence.
The supervisor managed to apprehend one suspect, identified in the company’s incident report as Aaron Ncube.
According to the report, the apprehended suspect implicated another person identified as Zulu Lithium employee Lazarus Dube, described as his relative.
The report further alleges that the suspects had arrived in a vehicle which was parked outside while they entered the premises.
The allegations against those named remain subject to the criminal justice process and do not, on their own, establish guilt.
Police Take Over Case
The Fort Rixon Police Station reference, RRB 4944945, provides a formal point of reference showing that the matter was reported to police following the apprehension.
According to the information supplied, police took over the case after Real Star security personnel apprehended the suspect.
The accused was scheduled to be taken to court in Bulawayo on August 24, while the other suspects had yet to be accounted for.
This sequence of events is significant because it distinguishes the alleged offenders from the Real Star personnel involved in the incident.
According to the company’s account, Real Star guards apprehended the suspected thieves and subsequently handed the matter over to police.
The Loss Control Manager maintained that the suspects were not Real Star Security employees or associates.
He also clarified that a separate incident in Athlone involved Real Star guards allegedly being attacked and tied up by suspected thieves in a case involving ZESA cables.
The company maintains that neither incident supports social media claims that its guards were involved in copper cable theft.
Hurumende News Hub is seeking confirmation of the outcome of the scheduled August 24 court appearance and the status of efforts to locate the outstanding suspects.
