Zesa loses $5 million to vandals
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk
Written by Lovejoy Sakala
Wednesday, 04 May 2011 06:44
HARARE – The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company
(ZETDC) says it has lost equipment worth about $5 million between January
2010 and February 2011.
Zesa spokeperson, Sherperd Mandizvidza said vandalism has impacted heavily
of the power utility to expand its network.
He said ZETDC lost copper conductors worth $3, 9 million, while the theft of
transformer oil and general damage to transformers was in the magnitude of
$356 000.
Mandizvidza added that vandalism of electricity pylons cost the company $400
000.
“We cannot expand the network because we are concentrating on replacements.
This has slowed down our efforts to put new connections on the national
grid. Consumers are also being affected as some power cuts are a result of
vandalism,” he said.
Zesa transmission equipment is targeted by criminals because it fetches high
prices in neighbouring countries such as South Africa, Mozambique and
Botswana.