Residents of Kambuzuma without any power since Dec 16th

By Violet Gonda
8 February 2007

Willas Madzimure, the Member of Parliament for Kambuzuma Harare, has said residents in his constituency have been without electricity for over a month. Many parts of Harare including Highfields, Mabvuku and Hatfield have also been without power over long periods. This is due to a lack of foreign currency to buy spare parts, plus corruption and theft at the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA).

The MP said more than 400 homes in Kambuzuma have been without power since December 16th. He said he has gone to ZESA a number of times to enquire but is told that the electricity supplier is failing to raise the foreign currency needed to replace a burnt transformer.

Last month the acting chairman of the country’s power authority, Christopher Chetsenga, admitted that ZESA has no money - raising concern that the entire country faces a total blackout. He blamed the cash shortages on the low tariffs being charged for electricity.

But critics disagree and blame the crisis on corruption. Madzimure said mismanagement is the root cause that has helped destroy the power utility. He said: “Hupfumi urikungo paradzwa nekuti urikungo pfachurwa” – Our wealth is being destroyed because people are squandering our wealth.

The blackouts in areas like Kambuzama have left residents desperate. Although it has become a way of life having no electricity, many are finding it difficult to cope. Firewood has become scarce, because many people have been cutting trees for cooking. Furthermore, most of the people who used to sell firewood were evicted during Operation Murambatsvina. It has also become very difficult and expensive to get fuel. The legislator said one bottle of paraffin now costs about Z$5,500 making it unaffordable to many. He said each household uses a bottle of paraffin a day.

Zimbabwe also faces a potential switch-off by international suppliers South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, who are also experiencing a power crisis in their own countries.