adminThupeyo Muleya Beitbridge Bureau
BEITBRIDGE Paramount Chief Vho Stauze (David Mbedzi) has called on the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) to urgently restore power to most rural parts of the district that have gone for five months without electricity.
He said most areas, especially major irrigation schemes, schools, business and health centres have been without electricity since November last year.
It is understood that most areas especially in Beitbridge West constituency have been without electricity after some poles were destroyed by storms at the start of the rainy season.
“The situation is very bad. As we speak there are poles and electricity cables that are lying across the road near the turn-off to Mpande village,” said Chief Stauze.
“It is very disturbing to many of us and the communities in general. To make matters worse, some crops at major irrigation schemes have wilted.
“In addition, the district’s economic development is being affected by this blackout especially those who deal with perishables.
“ZETDC has taken longer than necessary to address our problem. We are appealing to them to treat this problem with the urgency it deserves.”
He continued: “I know there are challenges with resources, but I don’t think that excuse is good enough now. We hear that they don’t have a truck to collect the poles from Bulawayo.
“If they are serious they should request for a relief truck from another station and attend to our problem”.
The traditional leader said children are at high risk of electrocution in areas where the power cables were still lying on the ground.
He said even some villagers were concerned about the welfare of their livestock. The Herald understands that a total of 42 hectares of maize crop wilted at two major irrigation schemes on Beitbridge West constituency as a result of the power blackout that affected the pumping of water for irrigation
The district livestock and crop production officer, Mr Masauso Mawocha, said poles supplying electricity to Shashe, Jalukange and Bili irrigation schemes collapsed during recent storms thereby disrupting electricity distribution.
“Zesa is now on the ground, Shashe and Jalukanga electricity has been restored and they are now working on Bili Irrigation Scheme,” he said.
Residents and businesses recently lambasted the ZETDC for effecting wanton power cuts daily crippling key services at the border post, hospital and households among other areas.
In separate interviews the stakeholders said the power utility’s conduct had resulted in electrical appliances being damaged.
Online Reporter