adminTanaka Mahanya
THE Harare business community and residents are furious with the “excessive power cuts,” in the past two weeks with power station faults.
South Africa has also been battling with a punishing schedule of load shedding.
The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company warned of increased load shedding nationwide, citing technical challenges at the Kariba and Hwange power stations, as well as import constraints.
Most parts of the country started experiencing massive power cuts, two weeks ago, leaving entire areas in darkness.
Lawrence Chidembo, a Harare university student, said the lengthy power cuts had affected his schedule of studies.
“It is now very difficult to use electrical devices when studying since we are always without power due to Zesa’s excessive electricity blackouts,” said Chidembo.
The blackouts have also affected small businesses.
“I have a printing company, which relies on electricity to get the work done,” said a city businessman, who preferred not to be identified.
“However, the power cuts have affected the running of the business. More than half of the profit we make now goes towards fuel purchase for a generator, making it difficult to conduct our business as things stand,” he said.
A butchery owner told H- Metro they had to throw away spoiled meat, which went bad on Monday, because of the power cuts.
“Our business has been impacted negatively as customers return meat from time to time.
“For the greater part of the day, there is no electricity in Ruwa and when it comes, it is only for a short time,” he said.
Other suburbs like Hatfield, have gone for 48 hours without electricity.
The Central Business District has also not been spared.
Most traffic lights in the city centre were not working yesterday morning as there was no power nation wide after a line fault.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter