It’s faults, not load shedding says ZESA

Bridget Mabanda

Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority has said there is no load shedding in spite of long daily blackouts being experienced by consumers throughout the country.

“There is no load shedding but there are many faults,” said ZESA Digital & Marketing Manager Prosper Mutswiri in response to an enquiry from Zim Now on the outages.

The power authority through its subsidiary Zimbabwe Electricity Distribution Company have recently said that vandalism is hampering power supply as they are losing five to eight transformers a week.

But consumers do not believe that explanation and would like ZESA to explain exactly what is going on.

“So these faults suddenly fix themselves at 9 pm then reoccur at 5 am the next morning?” asked Nemo Chasi of Kuwadzana. She said that 15 and 16 hour blackouts have become the order of the day over the past couple of weeks.

Social media users on ZETDC handles and other forums are painting the picture of intense load shedding the country over and want load shedding schedules issued:

Facebook:
Chiee Chiee

vanhu vezesa matinyanyira loadsheding yenyu is to much kunyanya highfield magetsi anoyenda na5am odzoka futi tarara tipei maserious apa newknd yese

Golda Kays Sibbs

Everyday loadshedding here veduwe. We can't even plan.

Virginia Itai Gasva

Zesa why Crowbrough North phase 3 matinyanyira zvii zvamukunyatsoita im

Solomon Tapiwa Sigwenese

Load shedding yenyu bho here

Every day zvanyanya izvi
Owen Chipendo

According to that notice it means our areas ane magetsi so the power outage is not official so to speak...plz investigate our area we are getting a raw deal here

Khulekani Mazibuko Hlambelo

These days you seem to be transmitting and distributing more of apologies than electricity.

Takunda Dube

You're failing us in Bulawayo or Zimbabwe in general... load shedding everything day leads to increased copper theft....can't continue living like this

Ian Solomonic Kahale

Your updates are so confusing and very monotonous. Please provide us a time table ye load shedding yenyu. Ndozvakakosha for now. Tizive mashandiro.

Martin Mugove

Load shedding from 5am until 2200 everyday here in Senga,Gweru ? Zvakaoma shuwa zveZesa

Mikewell Rwambiwa

Westgate Bluffhill matipa punishment

Febbie Sinaripotario Joe

Zvishavane nyama zvadzatowora tiudzei zvirikuitika

Twitter:

@wellyzivuka

Ko kwava neimwe load shedding here yatisiri kuziva. kungoona magetsi akuenda daily ka zvema8 or more hours. it will be good to inform your customers of new developments.

@PeteSatumba

Mukati muchimborine magetsi here cz kubva kuseni ,kusvika husiku Kuwadzana tisina magetsi daily.

@Gugue75066655

What sort of load shedding is this that's over 24hrs? I won't even talk of the fact that power cuts have been happening all week around six till 10pm

When asked to explain how areas that were not on the faults lists issued regularly were facing power outages and why the faults appear timed and regular Mr Mutswiri said he would have to consult:

“Let me liase with the GM Stakeholder Relations for ZESA and revert back to you,” he said.

The blackouts come at a time when the power distribution authority has promised consumers improved supply as the Hwange Thermal power station upgrade has been declared almost complete. However water levels at Kariba have fallen threatening that major supply.

Zimbabwe currently has a power deficit and ZESA has said that increased industry capacity utilisation and opening up of new mines is further opening the gap between demand and supply.

A number of mines and industries have resorted to their own alternative power supply systems with massive solar installations.