Security drone operations in Zimbabwe have recorded their first publicly proclaimed success, after four people were arrested for vandalising property belonging the National Railways of Zimbabwe; the country’s rail transport parastatal.

The state-owned entity said that the four women – Ethel Jonasi, Priscila Mazvarihafa, Aruna Chimedza and Tatenda Mashingaidze – were spotted via a drone that was part of a security patrol along the rail track in the Masasa area, a couple of kilometres to the east of the Harare CBD.

The women had dug a ditch on the side of the rail tracks so they could retrieve the coal ash that had been rammed into the ground to keep that part of the tracks steady and strong.

In explanation, the NRZ said they use coal ash in swampy areas to strengthen the infrastructure and prevent weeds from taking root.

How these people got to know about this is something we also need to know.

“The decision by the NRZ to invest in drones has started paying off after the arrest of four Harare women spotted digging coal ash along the railway line,” the company said in a statement.

“NRZ security personnel deployed a drone along the track in Masasa, Harare and saw the women digging the coal ash. Ethel Jonasi, Priscila Mazvarihafa, Aruna Chimedza and Tatenda Mashingaidze were today each sentenced to five years in jail after pleading guilty to vandalism at the Harare Magistrates Court.

“The coal ash was used to strengthen the rail formation as it was built over a swampy area.”

Besides security, the NRZ also use its small fleet of drones to inspect its rail infrastructure; ensuring there is not overgrowth too close to the railway lines; monitoring high-voltage electrical lines, railway catenary lines, and even tracks and switching points.

With drone technology’s assistance, extensive drone imagery can be obtained, to magnify the process of detecting defects, cracks and additional dangers in record time.