ZESA cuts CSC off
http://www.thezimbabwean.co.uk/
01.05.13
by Pamenus Tuso
The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority last week switched off the
cash-strapped Cold Storage Company’s abattoir.
The move has adversely affected the cattle slaughter joint venture with
Botswana. Zimbabwe is sourcing beef cattle from Botswana that are
slaughtered at the CSC abattoir before the meat is sold locally.
The two countries signed the cattle slaughter deal in 2011 where it was
agreed Botswana Meat Commission would supply 20 000 cattle to the CSC.
Exports were stopped when CSC reportedly failed to pay BMC more than P2
million for cattle supplied.
However, following a fresh deal, cattle in areas affected by foot-and-mouth
disease in Botswana have been prepared for export to Zimbabwe. The latest
developments are likely to put the deal on ice.
Workers at the company told The Zimbabwean this week that CSC had been
struggling to honour its power bill for some time, a development which had
resulted in ZESA cutting off its electricity.
“The electricity was disconnected last week by Zesa. Some of the workers
have been sent home and told to come back when the electricity is available.
We do not know when the company will raise the money,” said a worker at the
company.
The workers said the Bulawayo City Council recently cut water supplies at
the company, prompting workers to use buckets for their ablution facilities.
Fearing the possibility of being shut down by health officials, the company
paid part of the money owed to the local authority which led to the water
being reconnected.
“Officials from the city health’s department nearly closed the abattoir last
week because of the serious health problems associated with water cuts. From
the way debtors are pouncing on the company, it seems we are going nowhere,”
said another worker.
When reached for comment, CSC Chief Executive Officer, Ngoni Chinogaramombe,
confirmed the electricity disconnections.
“It’s true we do not have electricity. Right now I do not have the actual
figures of how much we owe Zesa but the accounts people have that
information,” said Chinogaramombe.
