Kariba residents, businesses on edge as water cuts loom

Walter Nyamukondiwa–Kariba Bureau 

Companies and residents in Kariba are bracing for dry taps starting today after Zesa issued an ultimatum for Kariba Municipality to clear a $39 million electricity bill or have all water works disconnected.

Zesa workers went to disconnect the power at the water works on Friday before Kariba Municipality asked for a grace period of up to today, to pay an instalment towards clearing the bill. 

In a notice, acting Kariba Municipality town clerk Mr Godfrey Magijani advised residents of the situation urging them to settle their bills. 

“The Municipality of Kariba would like to advise its stakeholders, residents and ratepayers that the local authority has received a notice of power disconnection at all water stations from the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) with effect from Monday 30 August 2021,” said Mr Magijani. 

“The Municipality owes ZETDC a sum of $39 million in unpaid electricity bills. The ballooning debt is as a result of defaults by residents and ratepayers.” 

Kariba is owed nearly $100 million by ratepayers and residents. The electricity bill, growing at a monthly average of around $3 million, was $18 million in March, shot to $30 million in May before hitting $31 million this month. 

Kariba has at least six water intensive power stations including Breezes Water Intake, Breezes Treatment Plant, Zambezi Intake, Mahombekombe Water Works, High Head Pump Station and several mini booster pumps. The long-standing dispute between the power utility and Kariba Municipality has seen ZETDC switching off the local authority’s head office.  As a result, Kariba has been using a generator for the past seven months. 

Kariba mayor George Masendu told residents not panic as the municipality was “working tirelessly to come up with a payment plan with the ZETDC and I hope and trust that by Monday (today) we will have agreed and avoid disconnections”.

“In order for us to keep on honouring our payment plan, I am also appealing to you all our valued residents to pay your bills,” he said.