Several houses in Bulawayo’s Kingsdale suburb have gone for four months without power following the theft of copper cables in the area, CITE has established.
When CITE visited the area on Monday, some residents had resorted to using firewood.
“Our ZESA cables were stolen in September last year and to date, we are still in darkness,” said a resident, Nkosinathi Nkomo.
He said residents have tried engaging ZESA officials on the issue and they were told there were no conductors.
“At first a number of households were affected so we all contributed US$37 and ZESA managed to connect the mainline and a few houses were connected.
“Unfortunately, we contributed for the second time US$25 and they bought cables with the hope that the remaining houses will receive power but again other houses were not connected, and we are still in the darkness.”
Nkomo said the affected houses are currently struggling to contribute the needed funds to purchase the needed cables.
“Our appeal is for ZESA to meet us halfway and assist us so that we can be connected. We are expected to contribute for the third time but we are now few and we no longer have money. This is even affecting our horticulture farming,” he said.
A 73-year-old resident also said old people are struggling to get firewood.
“We are now told to contribute US$35 after contributing the US$62 and for that is a bit steep. ZESA always tells us that they are working on the issue,” she said.
In addition, Gogo MaDube also said this is affecting old people as they have medication that needs refrigeration.
“We need to cook porridge in the morning for chronic diseases such as BP and sugar diabetes but all that is being affected. Gas is very expensive, we cannot afford to buy it more often,” said MaDube.
“We once went to ZESA offices to plead with them to reconnect our electricity, and they told us we will be connected before Christmas but till today we are in the dark.”
ZESA spokesperson Prisca Utete did not respond to questions sent to her.
