The Herald, February 8, 1989
RATS climbing on the insulators of a substation in Harare’s Mufakose area and shorting a circuit caused the black-out of part of the suburb on Monday night.
A spokesman for the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority, said yesterday the black-out lasted two hours.
It was reported at 8.18pm and a maintenance team was at the station 22 minutes later. After identifying and rectifying the fault, power was restored at 9.55pm. – Herald Reporter.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
- Rats are a huge pest problem because they eat and contaminate food, they cause damage to property in homes and on structures; and, they transmit diseases to humans and other animals.
- It is important to note that rats will make a home anywhere they can access food and cover, including farm buildings, under houses, rubbish dumps, sewage systems and even in insulators as was the case in the story.
- It is important to regularly rat proof infrastructure such as houses and building to minimise damage caused by rats.



