ZESA’s new metre requirement to leave thousands in the dark

By Tererai Karimakwenda
23 October 2006

The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) which has long been referred to as the Zimbabwe Electricity Sometimes Authority, appears to be making more moves to live up to its nickname. The troubled parastatal has announced that beginning 2007, it will charge for electricity based on usage instead of charging the old standard fee based on estimates. All households are therefore required to purchase meters and pay ZESA to install them.

The cost for each household is expected to average Z$100,000. And failure to comply will result in power being turned off. Many families in Zimbabwe, already struggling to meet their basic daily needs, are going to be left in the dark. It will be even worse for the thousands of child headed households in the country with no income at all.

Pastor Ndhlovu in Bulawayo described a very sad situation that will get worse if ZESA cuts off the power. Xolani is only 19 years old but she is taking care of her 6 year old sister and 3 year old brother. Their parents and grandparents all passed away and they survive on money they make from renting two of the four rooms they have in their house. The pastor said the children never have more than one meal per day, and many days there is nothing to eat. There is no way they can pay Z$100,000 to ZESA for a meter.
Add to this the fact that Xolani also suffers from epilepsy and has fits that leave her mentally unstable. Pastor Ndhlovu said sometimes they can provide the drugs needed to control her seizures, but these are expensive and have to be imported. Most of the time she has no access to these drugs and the fits leave her confused and struggling to deal with everyday responsibilities.

Without electricity many families will have to rely on firewood which is very difficult to come by if you live right in town. In Zimbabwe gas is often unavailable and very expensive. Pastor Ndlovu said there are thousands of families faced with this sad situation in Bulawayo alone if ZESA goes ahead with this scheme.