Firm teams up with Chinese to supply Zesa pre-paid meters

manufacture and supply of the pre-paid meters.
Shenzhen Inhemeter chairman Mr Wang Gongyong is already in Zim­babwe and will witness today’s launch of the pre-paid meters by Zesa.
Finmark Industries spokesperson Mr Peter Mukuna confirmed the devel­opment yesterday. He said as a local company they were encouraged and happy that they won the tender.
“We are bringing one of the world’s best smart-meter manufacturers who would be teaming up with a young and indigenous Zimbabwean com­pany, Finmark Industries, in the sup­ply of pre-paid meters,” Mr Mukuna said.
He said Finmark chose the Chinese partners as their product proved to be the best on the market.
“The product is user friendly and it is in use in most African countries,” Mr Mukuna said.
He said Shenzhen Inhemeter had plans to set up a pre-paid meter man­ufacturing plant in Harare in partner­ship with Finmark Industries.
Mr Wang and representatives from Finmark Industries yesterday had an opportunity to visit some of the pro­posed sites where the plant could be established.
Mr Wang also witnessed the fitting  of pre-paid meters at a block of flats           in Harare by Finmark Industries ahead of today’s expected official launch by Zesa.
He had earlier on paid a courtesy call on Acting President Joice Mujuru in Harare yesterday.
The Zimbabwe Electricity Trans­mission and Distribution Company last week said it was satisfied with the meters it received for the pilot project.
The power utility requires about US$60 million to install the prepaid meters countrywide.
Installation of pre-paid meters is expected to help end the war between Zesa and consumers over bills. Zesa’s billing system is based on estimates, a situation that has seen consumers refusing to settle some of the bills.