In the first half of 2007 alone, the value of the material stolen was put at 650,000 dollars. A new assault on EDM equipment this year has been the theft of oil from electrical transformers.
In Maputo, in less than three months, seven transformers were damaged by the theft of their oil.
Each transformer costs 400,000 meticais (about 16,000 dollars). They have to be imported, which takes time. Interviewed in Friday's issue of the Maputo daily "Noticias", Cuambe warned "we may have entire neighbourhoods without electricity for long periods", affecting schools, hospitals and factories.
Most of the materials stolen are made of copper and aluminium, some of which is melted down to make pots and pans, and some of which is sold to scrap merchants.
Cuambe believed there were organised crime networks involved in the thefts. "We just have to look at the trucks that were seized taking electrical material to Swaziland", he said. "That case doesn't look like the isolated act of one or two individuals".
"Although it may be true that some material is stolen to make domestic utensils, it is likely that major commercial operators are involved", he added.
In the northern province of Nampula, cases had been found where the thieves burnt the material to make it look as if really was scrap.
Cuambe thought it was time that all scrap metal exported from the country was properly inspected and its origins checked.
"We're not saying that all companies that sell scrap are involved in stealing electrical material", he said. "But there are strong indications of the involvement of some scrap metal companies".
Greater rigour in licensing and inspecting scrap metal dealers could be part of the solution, he suggested.
The case of the truckloads of stolen material intercepted on the way to Swaziland has been investigated and a date will soon be set for a trial. "For us it's very important that those responsible for the theft of electrical material should receive exemplary punishment". said Cuambe.
"Everybody shares the responsibility for fighting this evil". he said. "That means EDM, the government, the institutions of the administration of jusice, local communities, and every citizen interested in the well-being and development of our country, which depends to a large extent on the availability of electricity".
SOURCE: AIM
