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Under this proposed system, Zesa is guaranteed payment while at the same time consumers with outstanding bills have access to electricity. It is a fact that a number of consumers who had been disconnected for non-payment of electricity, some with outstanding bills running into thousands of dollars, had given up.
Many of them had realised that it was going to take them several years to clear the arrears hence they had stopped paying the outstanding bills. These defaulting consumers had in fact lost hope of ever using electricity. What is comforting is that these consumers can now be connected and start paying their outstanding bills every month because each time they buy electricity, 20 percent goes towards payment of the arrears.
Zesa has been commended for this noble decision which demonstrates that the power utility has the plight of its consumers at heart. What is however disturbing is the discord between what the Energy and Power Development Minister Elton Mangoma has said regarding this issue of stopping disconnections and what is happening on the ground. Zesa officials are insisting that the suspension of disconnections is yet to be officially communicated to them hence their decision to continue with the disconnections.
Scores of electricity consumers who thronged Zesa offices throughout the country on Thursday to have power reconnected to their houses following the announcement by Minister Mangoma went home disappointed when officials professed ignorance of the Minister’s directive. We do not want to be persuaded to believe that when the Minister made this important announcement which touches on the lives of the people, he was just politicking.
Minister Mangoma when contacted on Thursday following the confusion, insisted that the ministry’s position was that Zesa should immediately stop the disconnections. In the event of Zesa workers remaining defiant, Minister Mangoma should, without delay, punish the stubborn workers who seem to enjoy the suffering of their own consumers forgetting that it is the same consumers who are paying for their upkeep.
On his part, Minister Mangoma should ensure that his directive is formalised. A circular should have been sent to all Zesa branches before the public announcement.
It is not enough for Minister Mangoma to just condemn the stupidity of continuing with the disconnections without taking action to stop the disconnections. We have already stated that the proposed arrangement will benefit both Zesa and the consumers and we see no reason why Zesa workers should oppose such a good move. We hope Zesa management realises the immense benefits of the proposed new system and will, without delay, whip its workers into line. We want to once again say thumbs up to Zesa for coming up with workable arrears clearing system.
Zesa and its partners should speed up the installation of the pre-paid meters so that electricity consumers can only use the amount of power they have paid for. The finger-pointing between Zesa which has been accused of running a shambolic billing system and its consumers will soon be a thing of the past once all consumers have connected to the pre-paid meter system.
Zesa should not allow a situation whereby a few overzealous workers frustrate its otherwise noble decision to suspend power disconnections.
Online Reporter