Online Reporter
B-Metro Reporter
A BURNT switchgear has thrown large parts of Bulawayo into a nightmare blackout, with furious residents blasting ZETDC for dragging its feet as homes remain powerless days after the fault struck.
The outage, which hit on Saturday, 10 May, plunged suburbs including Luveve, Gwabalanda, Old and New Lobengula, Pelandaba, Matshobana, Mpopoma, Njube, Emakhandeni, Barbourfields, Nguboyenja, Makokoba, and Mzilikazi into darkness, sparking chaos, spoiled food, and rising fears of crime.
“This is unacceptable! Our food’s rotting, and our kids can’t even study!” fumed Amanda Ncube of Njube.
The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) confirmed the blackout was caused by “burnt switch gear” but says crews have now completed 80% of the repairs and hope to fully restore power by Tuesday, 13 May.
But for many residents, the wait is already too long.
“We’re tired of hearing the same excuse every month,” blasted a Barbourfields man. “We pay our bills, but we live like we’re off-grid!”
ZETDC issued a warning urging the public to treat all power lines as live, as electricity may return without notice. But in the meantime, cold meals, sleepless nights, and security fears haunt residents.
“We’re using candles like it’s 1965,” said a Matshobana grandmother. “Where’s the urgency?”
With each hour dragging in the dark, frustration is growing in Bulawayo’s western suburbs. The city waits, powerless, cold, and fed up.
Stay tuned to B-Metro for updates as the city holds its breath for light.
