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ON Monday August 18 we had load-shedding, which we accept, but there is even worse load-shedding.
The power goes off at 6am and comes on at 11.30pm. Sometimes it does not even come on at all. We have to constantly raise the Call Centre on 704236 — and sometimes we eventually get power around 2am. On Wednesday, August 20, around 9.30pm we saw that the street lights had come on but the houses didn’t have power. We then called the above-mentioned number to explain the problem. This is not the first time this problem has occurred. The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority is well aware of the problem and they have a range of ready explanations — either the wire has fallen out of the sub-station box or they don’t have fuses. I then got a report number and called at 3pm to find out if they had attended to the problem. It was a different story: the sub-station had being vandalized and they could not help. I asked to speak to the manager, but he is never in his office. The Call Centre people are rude, and don’t have any respect for how they should talk to their customers. Rumour has it that some Zesa technicians are removing parts from sub-stations and being paid US$20 to US$50 per house to replace the missing components so that power can be restored. This allegation is supported by the fact that they (Zesa technicians) are the only ones with knowledge of where the fuses and wires are placed in sub-station boxes otherwise an ordinary person would get electrocuted if they tampered with the wires. Zesa should offcially respond to these claims because it is important that we make the public aware of what is going on and what the authority is doing to address the concerns of the long-suffering electricity consumers as a result of the apparent indifference of the people at Zesa.
Residents
Hillside / Eastlea / Braeside Harare
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I can't deny the fact that some of Zesa officials maybe involved in corrupt dealings but what i can deny is the view that only "Zesa Technicians" are the "ONLY" ones with knowledge of fuses and wires in the sub-station. If i may ask these questions
1) do any one knows how many technicians, artisans, electricians etc come out of Zim institutions like polytechnics, colleges, universities, schools etc who do "NOT" work for Zesa...?
2) who doesn't know that if you temper with a live wire with bare hands you'll be electrocuted...? how they do it, they use insulators...
3) doesn't Zesa warn consumers about Criminals who use it's name to spindle consumers. remember ignorance is not defense
4) how about those copper cable thieves that have been caught stealing ? has anyone ask them if they work for Zesa or hold any qualification pertaining to electricity.
it is very unfortunate that the Call Center guts were rude. they are usually helpful in explaining the cause of the problem
you do the maths
All i can say is lets help Zesa help us by beefing up security around our sub stations and not dumping rubbish close to them because they can become inaccessible or catch fire.
Lack of necessary accessories and vandalism is some of the cause of our suffering. not zesa or its officials