RYAN CHIGOCHE
Power utility, ZESA Holdings, says it will focus mainly on providing solutions amid a spike in theft and vandalism on its property, Business Times can report.
ZESA executive chairman Sydney Gata said the power utility was going to use technology in the fight against theft as the number of incidents has been on the rise, delaying development of key infrastructure as the utility had to channel the money towards replacing the stolen key equipment.
“Solutions to theft and vandalism should be prioritised. In order to mitigate the risk of theft and vandalism, Loss Control is working with other stakeholders and law enforcement agents. Even though this is the case, there is a need to explore technology and ride on such technological interventions to curb with speed the problem of theft and vandalism,” Gata said at the ZESA Risk Management Awards ceremony held this month.
Equipment theft and vandalism has been identified as one biggest risk prejudicing the power utility of more than US$2m annually.
So widespread is the theft and vandalism that in 2019 the power utility acquired industrial-grade enterprise drones to curb the vice, which has been likened to economic sabotage.
Zesa has also been lobbying for a stiffer, longer sentence for those convicted of infrastructure theft.
There have also been claims that ZESA employees were behind most of the theft cases as economic conditions in the country have worsened rendering salaries useless forcing them into crime.
The Zesa Risk Management awards were held to honour stations with outstanding performance within the ZESA group that excelled in good risk management practices during the year 2021.
ZPC Kariba Power Station and ZENT Projects division were awarded for being the overall best in risk management and loss prevention.
In order to mitigate the risk of fires and explosions, which has also caused severe losses other than theft and vandalism, Zesa reported that it acquired and commissioned Arc Flash personal protective equipment valued at US$350,000.
