Residents of Burombo flats in Mzilikazi, Bulawayo, may soon see the return of electricity after living without power for two years.
Electricity at the flats was cut off following the electrocution of a child and concerns over unsafe wiring. Since then, households have struggled with daily life, while overcrowding and illegal connections have worsened social problems in the area.
Recently, officials from Bulawayo City Council and the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZESA) met residents at the Mzilikazi Housing Offices to discuss solutions.
Deputy Mayor Edwin Ndlovu said an audit of tenants would be carried out to establish who is responsible for outstanding debts before electricity can be restored.
“The issue of audit came when we were debating on what is owed to ZESA and how it would be recovered,” he explained. “We cannot move forward without knowing the rightful tenants, because some people who are there now might not be the ones who created the debt. The audit will help us separate the rightful tenants from those who came later.”
The audit is expected to be completed within a month. Officials said it was necessary because one-room flats often accommodate more than 10 people, with curtains used to partition living spaces.
ZESA officials told the meeting that the entire power system at Burombo flats was unsafe and would need to be rebuilt.
“The last bill of quantity was done in September 2023. The entire electricity system needs to be repaired. The new infrastructure must include individual meters for each apartment instead of a single communal meter,” officials said.
They added that electricity could only be reconnected once Bulawayo City Council had completed rewiring the buildings.
“We can only restore electricity once Council rewires the flats. The current wiring is not safe, and if power is brought back without proper work, more lives could be lost. After the rewiring, we will then move in to repair the system and make sure it is safe for residents to use,” the officials said.
The city council has committed to undertake the rewiring, while ZESA will install individual cash power meters once the work is complete.
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this place should be demolished shows the incompetency of @CityofBulawayo