Pay up or else . . .

by the time I got home I could have been out of power.
“I owe them a paltry US$175. I was forced to borrow and pay US$200 to ensure that at least my family is spared of the agony of being disconnected of the erratic power supplies.
“I had no qualms with that because I know I have an obligation to pay. 
“I only received the shock of my life to hear that some ministers and senior Government officials have not been honouring their bills.
“These people should learn to pay for what they have used simply and not wait to be disconnected. If one needs a service then he should pay for it,” said a visibly disheartened Solomon Kaunye of Kuwadzana.
He was contributing to a discussion that started in the kombi as we drove home after work.
The discussion was torched by a passenger who had phoned home to inquire whether or not power was available in the suburb.
This opened a can of worms as the discussion proved, among many other things, the need for Zimbabwe to cultivate a culture of paying for services.
Kaunye’s bitterness also reflects the disgruntlement that Zimbabweans have with the power utility, which has been accused of double standards when it comes to allocation of power in the past.
Though it is unfair that Zesa is ignoring the big sharks, there is a general weakness among Zimbabweans who do not want to pay for services.
This has seen the service provision continuously depreciating to a point of almost no return becoming virtually difficult to sustain debts.
Evidence is awash in public utilities such as councils, TelOne and even the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.
Zesa is owed a massive US$450 million by its consumers.
Despite such an energy sapping debt, people still want to get an uninterrupted service. Where does this energy come from when you are not paying?   
As such, the revelations by Energy and Power Development Minister Elton Mangoma to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy should send shock waves into the country’s conscience.
Minister Mangoma told the committee that most Government ministers’ bills were ranging between US$20 000 and
US$100 000 each with most of them having been accumulated at their farms, businesses or private homes.
This shows that from senior Government officials right to the poor resident in the high-density suburb, our people are not willing to pay for services.
The revelation that senior Government officials, civil servants, parastatals and Government-related companies owe that much to Zesa is unpalatable and calls for the nation to relook its conscience.
Consumer Council of Zimbabwe director Ms Rosemary Siyachitema said action by the parliamentarians was selfish and did not help in addressing the country’s energy problems.
“As CCZ we become very concerned when the architects of a policy decide not to pay instead of helping address the cost structure, which is heavy on the consumers.
“They should address fundamental issues that affect people. Energy is a cost pusher and needs to be handled in a proper manner.
“Our legislators and ministers have become selfish and are acting like naughty children who think of themselves and not the people they represent,” she said.
Ms Siyachitema said proper tariffs will encourage people to pay and this would be good for the service providers.
Harare Residents Trust spokesperson Precious Shumba said he was shocked at the hypocrisy of the national power utility.
He said such non-payment by senior ministers hinders economic recovery and has affected small business people who are trying to make a positive contribution to national development.
“The HRT condemns in the strongest terms this hypocrisy on the part of national leaders who, instead of putting in place policies that protect the poor against manipulation and exploitation by the rich and powerful are busy exposing the poor to victimisation by public institutions like Zesa.
“Instead of being abusive and aggressive against ordinary residents, Cabinet should make it Government policy to prioritise service delivery commensurate with cost of services rendered.
“Cabinet ministers owing public institutions should lead by example and settle their bills and stop being academic about people’s poverty,” he said.
City of Harare spokesperson Leslie Gwindi said it is now time for people to know that there is a cost for every service.
He said the City of Harare has been placing adverts asking residents to own up and pay for services.
“We need that money to deliver services and it is high time our people know that there is a price to every service.
“The moment they are aware of that it would be difficult for them to pay. 
“We are aware that money is difficult to come by these days and this is why we are saying residents should go to our offices and arrange a payment plan.
“People should not be fooled by unscrupulous individuals that they can get away with it,” he said.
Harare is owed US$260 million in unpaid service fees.
Consumers say Zesa needs to give its consumers the same treatment if it is inspire people to pay their bills.
They argued that consumers in Harare’s  western suburbs should get the same treatment with those in the east and northern suburbs.
That is also true of both the big fish and small fish that require the same services for survival.
Maxwell Chapfunga of Chitungwiza said the reason why people were not paying is because Zesa always lets people down through unscheduled load-shedding.
This, he said, could be their reason of being stingy when it comes to payment of bills though it is not justified.
He added that Zesa should work hard to bring back the trust it is losing among its consumers.
“We know the challenges Zesa is facing but to let the big sharks off the hook and punish the povo is unfair and does not help a culture of paying for services rendered.
“Imagine being switched off for nearly 10 hours because the power utility is failing to import enough power. Also picture the country living under a threat of being cut off for failure to service its debt if Zesa fails to collect its dues from consumers.
“There comes a time when the Energy Ministry must look itself in the mirror and move to correct the situation. We are happy that Zesa is forcing everyone to pay for power,” Mr Chapfunga said.
The Energy Ministry has vowed to switch off those who fail to honour their debts or negotiate a payment plan with the utility.
Another consumer from Warren Park said: “My electricity was cut off a fortnight ago over a US$300 bill I owe Zesa.
“I begged for an extension on the payment period but I have not been entertained. They insisted that I should pay half the outstanding bill.
“Now to hear that that the same company is owed thousands of dollars by individuals, it is scary. It makes us feel that the poor are forced to pay while the rich are using power for free.
“It doesn’t encourage us to pay for the service because others are not.”
She said it is disturbing that Zesa has chosen to disconnect supplies to poor people only and sparing politicians and senior civil servants.
Claude Matimbe of Unit N, Seke, said the time has come for Zesa and other utilities to educate people on the need to pay for services.
“The problem of non-payment for service is not only at Zesa but is also affecting local authorities.
“At the same time Government should stand up to this abuse of power by its members.
“The economy requires honest people otherwise we are heading nowhere.
“The thought of these people benefiting from empowerment programmes and loans from banks yet they are not eager to pay for services sends chills down my spine,” Matimbe said.
Others said politicians and senior Government officials should always lead by example so that the people can follow.
“Why do they have to cry about parastatal debts when they do not want to pay for services rendered?
“This is why politicians do not make a lot of noise about Zesa switching off customers. They too are not honouring their obligations and fear the wrath of the power utility.
“I remember them cutting off small-scale farmers for outstanding bills when they know the farmers are still to be paid for grain delivered to the Grain Marketing Board. Why disconnect individuals who are struggling to make ends meet and spare those with resources?
“It should be born on everyone’s mind, big fish or the ordinary man on street that services need to be paid for. Such naming and shaming should continue to ensure everyone owns up to their debts,” Mr Smart Tanda of Highfield said.
They said non-payment of Zesa and council bills in protest of the rates being charged that are too high or that people are not happy with current outages.
This then calls for the speedy adoption of the prepaid system to ensure consumers use what they have paid for.