Metering migration plunges Bulawayo into darkness ...

Metering migration plunges Bulawayo into darkness as ZETDC switches off tower lights

Zim Now Writer

Zesa Holdings subsidiary, the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company has confirmed an on-going metering transition process has led to the power company switching off tower lights in Bulawayo.

The transition comes as the power company migrates from post-paid metering to the prepaid model, a development that may result in more dark days if council does not pay for its electricity on time.

In a statement, the power company said that the exercise is part of an ongoing transition that started about two weeks ago and is expected to be complete by end of next month.

“Tower lights were migrated from a post-paid metering system to a prepaid metering system. ZETDC started the national prepayment metering rollout project in 2012, targeting domestic and small commercial customers and have been conducting the exercise in phases since then,” said the utility.

“We are now in the final phase of the project where we are mopping up all points that are still on post-paid metering countrywide as we aim to have all customers on the prepaid metering system by the end of June 2024. To date over 93 percent of all post-paid customers have been migrated to the prepaid platform.”

There has been disagreements between the city and the power company, with Zesa alleging that council had been notified prior. However, Bulawayo City Town Clerk has dismissed the reports noting that they were not informed of the disconnections until after the exercise had started.

“It has recently been brought to our attention that Zesa conducted an operation to replace conventional meters with prepaid meters without prior notification to the Department of Works.

“This oversight has resulted in widespread blackouts throughout suburbs such as Entumbane, Nkulumane, Nketha, Makhandeni, Tshabalala, and Makokoba, greatly affecting access to essential services. Approximately 90 tower lights have been affected, leaving many residents in the dark.

“However, Zesa has been slow in providing the necessary balance brought forward invoices, hindering our ability to expedite the re-connection process,” he said.

“In response to this situation, we are in the process of arranging a meeting with the ZESA team to address this issue and ensure better communication and coordination in future operations.

“It is crucial that such operations are conducted in phases and that relevant departments are informed to minimise disruptions in service delivery,” he said.

Residents association representative, Winos Dube also expressed shock in the ongoing disconnections, which have affected residents.

“I don’t recall such a thing ever happening. I have lived in this city for more than 50 years but I have never seen such a thing happening. We are disappointed and shocked to learn that Zesa has disconnected tower lights and street lights.

“They play a major role in the city as they are part of security measures. We are already experiencing muggings, burglaries, and break-ins so without the tower lights our lives are being put at risk. Why would Zesa just disconnect without engaging us the stakeholders?

“We learned of this when one of the residents questioned a councillor on why the council was not fixing faulty tower lights, which were not functional for some time. So, the councillor responded by saying the tower lights were not faulty but had been disconnected by the power utility.

“This is strange and disappointing behaviour and we will be making follow-ups with the responsible authorities,” said Dube.