Industry and domestic electricity consumers have attacked Zesa Holdings for failing to properly manage power distribution following the introduction of a massive load-shedding programme earlier this month. Both large-scale and domestic power users last week accused the parastatal of failing to ably co-ordinate the distribution of the available electricity supplies.
Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) president Mr Kumbirai Katsande said most companies were operating way below capacity owing to the latest round of load-shedding.
"The power cuts are affecting the operations of most industries. The year is only beginning and industries are reopening. People are quite concerned," he said.
"Some industries have resolved to buy emergency generators, but not everyone can afford to purchase one.
"The surprising part is that electricity bills continue to come and Zesa expects us to pay. If one is not satisfying customers, how is one going to pay?"
Harare Residents' Trust director Mr Precious Shumba urged Zesa Holdings to publish a comprehensive load-shedding schedule.
"Electricity is being cut across all suburbs. However, the load-shedding periods are not well-defined. Areas such as Old Highfield and Sunningdale have gone for two days without electricity while other suburbs have stretched to four days," he said.
Zesa Holdings spokesperson Mr Fullard Gwasira said power supplies were normal last month as schools and industry were closed.
He said while load-shedding is not "anything new", his organisation was working to expedite the refurbishment of Hwange Power Station.
He indicated that load-shedding is expected to be reduced significantly on account of the Hwange and Kariba expansion projects which will inject a further 900MW into the national electricity grid.
"Once a contractor has been engaged, Hwange Power Station will be expanded by two units, that is 300MWX2, in a development that will boost the national electricity grid."
Mr Gwasira said the country has also stepped up imports from Mozambique and Zambia.
"Although the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) has embarked on a phased rehabilitation programme of some units at its major power stations, local electricity generation is being supplemented by imports from HCB of Mozambique and Zesco of Zambia. The development has greatly reduced load-shedding.
Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) chief executive officer Engineer Gloria Magombo said several challenges were inhibiting optimum electricity generation. Among the constraints are failing plant equipment, inadequate funding as well as skills and coal shortage.
"Yes, we have received complaints from customers about load-shedding and high incidents of faults which occur during the rainy season due to lightning, falling trees and lines," she said.
"Over the last few days, the generating plant at Hwange has received wet coal due to heavy rains which are impacting negatively on the operations of the station.
"Currently, constraints are being experienced in the output of generation plants owing to under-maintenance in previous years and shortfalls in funding requirements arising from non-payment of bills by consumers."
- SN
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