ZESA attacked for load shedding
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/
Written by Paul Ndlovu
Monday, 23 August 2010 16:13
BULAWAYO – Residents here have alleged bias in the Zimbabwe Electricity
Supply Authority’s (ZESA) load shedding regime. Angry residents alleged that
some areas go for up to 19 hours a day without power while others, in which
they claimed Zesa bosses resided, never experience power cuts.
A number of consumers with a fixed charge (load limiters), also said they
would start calculating their monthly bills based on the fraction of the
time they have power. Some people said they wanted to sue the power utility
company for electrical
gadgets which they claimed were damaged by power surges caused by arbitrary
power cuts.
Livid residents called for equitable load shedding that should be spread
evenly among all suburbs.
In the western suburbs, furious fixed charge residents threatened to stop
paying bills.
“We will either stop paying completely or start paying for the hours in
which we have power. We are mobilizing each other as residents to bring a
collective lawsuit against Zesa for property that has been destroyed by
power surges,” said Sikhulile Sibanda of Gwabalanda.
Residents from the low-density suburbs also had similar complaints. “I live
in Hillside East. We are now subjected to daily cuts that sometimes last for
up to 17 hours. Friends of mine who stay at Queenspark say they have the
same problem. We pay about US$70 for electricity. It is therefore
frustrating to note that homes along Fairbridge Road never suffer load
shedding,” said Margot Cunningham.
Residents of Morningside, Burnside, the city centre and parts of Montrose
said power cuts were selective because they often had less than eight hours
of electricity a day.
“People in Bradfield and most of Montrose are not subjected to power cuts.
Why then are we paying Zesa when they turn round and bite the hand that
feeds them?” an irate resident said.
Residents asked for a clear load shedding schedule from Zesa that would
cover all areas.
“We are not against load shedding because we understand it is a national
problem. We are just asking Zesa to be fair about the procedure. We should
know exactly when to expect cuts and they should last a reasonable time so
that we at least get time to use the power we pay for,” said Butista Ndlovu
of Gwabalanda.
No comment could be obtained from ZESA.