Outcry as ZESA continues disconnections over unpaid bills
By Tichaona Sibanda
09 October 2012
There has been huge outcry from ZESA consumers countrywide following the
power utility’s ongoing program to cut off supplies from those with
outstanding bills.
Two months ago, Energy and Power Development Minister Elton Mangoma ordered
ZESA to stop disconnecting all consumers with unpaid bills, until it had
installed prepaid meters. It is hoped that the meters will put an end to
ZESA’s estimated billing system that thousands of consumers have said do not
reflect their actual power usage.
The power utility is in the process of rolling out prepaid meters in all
domestic and business premises, and it expects that in 10 months time 600
000 customers will have the meters installed. Currently only 19 000
customers have the new service.
But in apparent defiance of the minister and government’s directive, ZESA
has been disconnecting power to thousands of defaulting domestic and
commercial consumers in the past few weeks. The state controlled Herald
reported that several households and businesses countrywide, including those
at growth points, have been disconnected.
Mangoma has urged those being disconnected to report to his ministry.
Customers owe the power utility more than $600 million. Many have bills
averaging between $500 and $1 000, accumulated since the introduction of
multiple currency system.
SW Radio Africa correspondent Simon Muchemwa reported that despite Mangoma’s
directive, ZESA has not stopped disconnecting power to consumers with
outstanding bills.
He said the problem is that consumers with outstanding bills have not taken
up ZESA’s advice to negotiate methods of payment with the power utility.
“This is nothing new in Harare, ZESA has not stopped cutting off power for
months, they do it everyday as long as you owe them money in unpaid bills,”
Muchemwa reported.
“But if you approach the company and work out a repayment plan, they will
not cut off power to your household or business premise,” Muchemwa added.
Muchemwa said that such arrangements are understood to have been made by
high level government defaulters, who were singled out in a report this year
as not paying their bills. This information was received with anger by
regular consumers, who complained that the power utility was only
disconnecting them and not government officials.