Daily power cuts create health hazard and increase robberies in Mashonaland West

By Tererai Karimakwenda
18 August 2006

People storing water in buckets and other unsafe containers are creating an environment for water borne diseases in Chinhoyi and other parts of Mashonaland West Province. From Chinhoyi our correspondent Mike Mutasa reports that there are daily power cuts that cause the water to be shut off as well. He said people have resorted to keeping emergency water supplies in containers that are not refrigerated so the water often becomes stagnant. The power cuts have also led to an increase in robberies at night.

Mutasa told us the power cuts have been really bad this whole year so far. He said there is no power from the morning till about noon then it comes on for a couple of hours in the afternoon. There is no exact schedule so it is difficult to plan when to shower or to do laundry or to cook.

Mutasa said thieves are taking advantage of the darkness and are breaking into shops and private homes. With the economic climate as it is desperate people are looking for anything they can steal and sell. Mutasa added that the Chinhoyi council needs to take more action to protect residents.

As we reported on several occasions many household items that use electricity can be damaged when power is restored if they are not turned off during the power cuts. Mutasa said this has also been a serious problem in Chinhoyi. He said many people have complained to council officials but they blame the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) and say they are not responsible.