Residents in Harare West are experiencing power outages because the electrical cables used for transmitting power have become old and worn out. As a result, many people in the constituency have been forced to crowdfund to pay for the procurement and replacement of stolen transformers and underground cables.
During a Parliament Question and Answer session, Harare West MP Joanah Mamombe highlighted that residents are contributing large sums of money to replace these cables. She asked Energy and Power Development Minister Soda Zhemu what would happen to the contributions—whether they would be refunded after the cables and other equipment were replaced.
Minister Zhemu responded that it is ZESA’s responsibility to replace broken power cables. He clarified that, although broken cables can cause power shortages, it is not government policy for residents to purchase replacement cables themselves; this task belongs to ZESA as a parastatal. When ZESA lacks stock, residents who voluntarily buy cables or transformers can be reimbursed. Zhemu explained that procurement by parastatals is conducted publicly through PRAZ, which can cause delays. Therefore, he advised residents who have purchased equipment to write a letter stating that the purchase was voluntary, detailing the amount spent, so that the money can be reimbursed through their electricity charges.
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