Chronicle Editor
Patrick Chitumba , [email protected]
BUSINESSES within Gweru’s Central Business District (CBD) have been grappling with significant losses due to an ongoing power outage that has lasted for three consecutive days.
Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) has attributed the power outage to a cable fault which is being attended to at the moment.
Shop-owners are voicing their concerns over the spoilage of perishable goods, including meat, fruits, and vegetables, as they lack an alternative power source to operate their refrigerators. Banks and some retail establishments have resorted to using generators, resulting in a constant cacophony of generator noise throughout the CBD.
The impact of this power outage has been particularly harsh on Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the tailoring industry, preventing them from fulfilling orders, such as school uniforms, due to the absence of electricity.
Consequently, parents and guardians have been compelled to seek alternative tailors in areas like Mkoba 6, Senga, and Mambo to meet their children’s uniform needs.
The repercussions extend beyond business losses, affecting internet services and voice calls, making it challenging for residents to purchase Zesa coupons and conduct mobile money transactions. Business operators have lamented their financial setbacks caused by these power outages.
The typically well-illuminated CBD now bears a stark contrast, resembling a dark city at night, as street lights remain off, and many shop owners switch off their lights after shutting down their generators at the close of business.
Mrs Ireen Matsika a well-known tailor confirmed that she had lost a lot of revenue from potential uniform and other orders due to the power outage.
“Back to school period for us tailors is usually associated with brisk business as we work on school uniform orders but this time around there is no business to talk of since we have no power. The unavailability of power means no cutting, designing or sewing anything and that means no revenue is coming in. We have been sitting since Friday morning hoping and praying that the cable fault is attended to,” she said.
Mr McDonald Sita, who fixes smartphones, said he is worried that clients will eventually find alternative people who fix phones much to his demise.
“Some clients have been patient hoping and waiting that power is restored so that I fix their mobile phones. But there are others who have collected their phones and taken them to other competitors which spells disaster for me. I have lost a lot of business and potential revenue due to this power outage,” he said.
A prominent businessman on condition of anonymity said he had been forced to invest in new big generators to keep his refrigerators, cold rooms and bakery running. He said he could not afford to wait for power to be restored as that would spell doom for his business.
“We woke up to no Zesa on Friday morning and to make sure that my perishables are not affected, we invested in big generators. We have been able to provide fresh meat and other perishables. Challenge has been on communication as mobile services have been slow as well as network for swipe machines. We hope the problem is fixed soon,” he said.
Even a barber Mr Langton Ncube said the power outage had taken a toll on his potential revenue from clients especially schoolchildren preparing for schools opening.
“My brother things are not well. Usually from Friday to Sunday when schools open, I record brisk business as schoolchildren come for haircuts. Unfortunately that has not been the case this time around. We are just coming to sit and talk as we pray and hope for power restoration,” he said.
Zimbabwe Chamber for Small-to-Medium Enterprises Gweru chapter chairperson Mr Tafadzwa Mazorodze said it has been unfortunate that the cable fault had taken days to be fixed.
He said the most affected by this have been SMEs who don’t have money to invest in alternative sources of power such as generators or solar.
Friday morning when they experienced the power outage. Some sold perishables such as meat at giveaway prices yesterday after realising that power was not being restored anytime soon. We are optimistic that we will see better opportunities for them in the coming five years so that they are able to invest in alternative sources of power and on their own premises,” he said.
According to a notice from ZETDC, to its customers in the CBD, the nature of the problem has been identified as a cable fault.
The affected areas and places are Main Street, Robert Mugabe Avenue, 8th Street, Jason Moyo Avenue, Bahadur Centre, First Mutual Building, Old Zesa District Offices, Magistrate Courts, ZRP Central Office, Bensam Flats, Nice Time Bar, DCK, Chitukuko, Zuva Garage, Old Mutual Building, Nandos, Teachers Furnitures, Econet Wireless, Moonlight Building, Shopwell Building, Glow Petroleum, Nssa, Educare, Legion Bar, 5th, 6th, 7th, ZBC, Police Main Camp, Gweru East — Princess, Simpson Road, Strand Road, Kent Crescent, Kopje Road and the surrounding areas.
“Our teams are working to ensure full restoration of service in the shortest possible time. Customers are advised to treat all circuits as LIVE during this period as power may be restored without notice. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused,” said ZETDC in a brief statement.
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