TENDAI BHEBE IN BULAWAYO
The City of Bulawayo has been plunged into darkness after thieves stole copper cables with residents going for days without electricity, Business Times can report.
The affected suburbs Kingsdale, Famona, Hillcrest and Hillside, among others.
Bulawayo United Residents Association chairperson Winos Dube said the situation was dire.
“It’s a challenge not through load shedding. But, there is a lot of vandalism where a lot of copper cables are being stolen and that affects the residents. The residents are now running for days without electricity,” he said.
It is understood that the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), a unit of ZESA Holdings, requires more than US$14m to procure intruder detection gadgets to fight the scourge that continues to bleed the power utility.
“Now the most unfortunate thing is when ZETDC is approached they would always sound like they are incapacitated not in a position to replace those cables just because of financial challenges that they are going through as a company,” Dube said.
He added: “We have received reports that some residents have run for very long periods of time without electricity in their respective areas due to the fact that there had been some transformer challenges or faults.”
Dube also said residents were being advised by ZESA to come together and collectively raise some funds in a bid to replace the electricity infrastructure which is a challenge as for residents as they are struggling and do not have the money.
He said ratepayers should not raise money to buy electricity infrastructure.
ZESA western region manager Engineer Loyd Jaji said everyone should play a part in stopping vandalism in the city.
“ Yes it is true among other areas. Yes thieves stole copper cables but Entumbane has since been restored. We need everyone to play a part in stopping vandalism. We need all stakeholders to assist in stopping the vandalism,” he said.
