‘Disband Zesa’
By Chengetai Zvauya and Helen Kadirire
Saturday, 09 July 2011 13:48
HARARE – Zimbabweans from all walks of life have demanded the immediate
dismissal of power utility firm Zesa Holdings management and the disbandment
of underperforming parastatals following paralysing power cuts throughout
the country.
Ordinary people, human rights organisations, farmers, traders and the
general populace has called on President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai to immediately take action against Zesa board and
management as power shortages persist in the country.
The people are demanding that new heads should take over at the power
utility whose erratic supply of electricity has caused untold suffering to
farmers, patients at hospitals and industry while the darkness that befalls
every suburb in Harare has seen residents being terrorised by thugs.
Most homesteads and industries now rely on generators which are expensive to
run because of the high costs of fuel and maintenance. While management at
Zesa is busy harassing Minister of Energy Elton Mangoma, they are failing to
deliver power to the country.
The blackout is heavily felt this winter with power outages affecting
industries and residential areas.
Even the city centre this week experienced serious blackouts which severely
affected business.
Farmers are also feeling the pinch of blackouts as the power shortages are
affecting their winter cropping which needs electricity to drive the water
irrigation pumps while poultry, piggery and ‘Disband Zesa’ beef projects
need electricity to be fully operational.
Farmers who spoke the Daily News said that they no longer had confidence in
the power utility and wanted it to be disbanded and be replaced by more
serious private players.
A newly-resettled farmer in the Mazowe area, Ben Chakanetsa who grows wheat,
potatoes and maize and is also into poultry and cattle breeding, said Zesa
was letting down farmers.
“We are not getting any electricity that we desperately need this winter for
our cropping and breeding programmes. For our farming season to prosper, we
need adequate supply of electricity which is not available. We hope that
Zesa is going to help us. We feel that Zesa needs to be disbanded and allow
another player to come into the industry so that we can have other options,’’
said Chakanetsa.
However, Zesa spokesperson Fullard Gwasira said Zesa was trying their best
to service its customers.
“It is not secret that we have been experiencing power problems since 2000,
but we are trying to do our best. I don’t know that there was power problems
in the city yesterday. I shall find out from our maintenance department what
problem affected the city and I will inform you,’’ said Gwasira, clearly
displaying the arrogance that has crept in at the struggling power utility
firm. Zesa has for many years been one of the best examples of how to
mismanage businesses and also a good example of a firm which has dismally
failed to deliver service to the people.
The country produces 1400 Megawatts a day from the power stations at Hwange,
Munyati, Kariba and Harare. Zimbabwe needs 2200 megawatts a day.
Zesa is importing 300 megawatts from Mozambique and Namibia.
Load-shedding has increased this winter season as the residential areas and
industries are spending many hours in without electricity.
Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) coordinator Simbarashe Moyo
said on several occasions the organisation has condemned the poor service
delivery by Zesa.
Moyo said they have been receiving many reports from their structures
complaining about load-shedding.
“The residents say that what was now happening is no longer load-shedding
but complete blackouts as some sections can be without electricity for days.
Residents are now wondering whether they should be paying their bills
considering that they hardly have power,” Moyo said.
He said there have also been reports of household electrical appliances
being damaged due to unannounced power cuts.
Moyo also said residents have now resorted to paying fixed amounts because
they do not get their statements and when they do, it is not a true
reflection of what they would have consumed.
“Residents should not be made to suffer because Zesa has debts that it is
failing to settle. They should first clear then a way forward can be forged
from there,” he said.
Glen View resident, Timothy Magede said there is no reason for Zesa
management to be still occupying their positions and taking home huge perks
while making the people suffer.
Prominent Harare resident and businessman Paddington Japajapa said it was
criminal for Zesa management to remain in office while blackouts persist.
“It’s a scandal that we still have people claiming to be bosses at Zesa
while denying people electricity. It’s like we are in a war situation. In
other countries, the board and management should have been arrested,” said
the fiery Japajapa.
Last month Bulawayo residents, mainly women organised by Women of Zimbabwe
Arise (Woza) a non-governmental organisation that advocates for women’s
rights in the country, marched in Harare and Bulawayo demanding the power
utility firm provide quality service to its customers.
They said Zesa is charging high tariffs which do not justify the shoddy
service they are providing to customers.
They gathered to sign the “anti-abuse of power petition” to express their
frustration at the persistent 18-hour power cuts which occur on a daily
basis.
Woza said Zesa was engaging in daylight robbery through the unending power
cuts but charging large amounts of money.
Woza requested Zesa to stop using fixed meters and to ensure they provided
proper timetables of load-shedding and urgently put in place a proper and
transparent billing system.
They chanted slogans, calling for justice, freedom and urgent social
reforms.
Zesa owes regional suppliers more than US$100 million in accumulated debt.
Despite facing electricity supply problems, Zimbabwe is exporting power to
Namibia at a low cost. Zesa officials have in the past, defended this saying
they are paying back what they owe the Namibians.
Mangoma was not available for comment yesterday.