Chronicle EditorRaymond Jaravaza,[email protected]
POWER utility ZESA faces significant challenges in efficiently supplying electricity to residents and businesses due to theft and vandalism. Reports indicate that 6 000 transformers have been tampered with across the country.
The vandalism and theft of transformers affect all ZESA regions—Northern, Western, Harare, Southern, and Eastern Regions—crippling the ability to maintain electricity supply to businesses, industries, and homes, thereby negatively impacting the economy.
Minister of Energy and Power Development July Moyo stated said the situation is further complicated by the country’s inability to manufacture the majority of transformers, necessitating reliance on imports.
“There are numerous issues contributing to the breakdown of power supply, including theft of transformers. Currently, 6 000 transformers have been stolen nationwide. We manufacture only a small number of transformers in the country, so theft and vandalism leave us in a difficult position,” Minister Moyo explained to the National Assembly.
He noted that ZESA requires foreign currency to replace stolen or vandalised transformers but lacks the funds necessary for imports.
“ZESA Enterprises (ZENT) manufactures transformers, but not in quantities sufficient to replace the vandalised infrastructure,” Minister Moyo said.
“Although a few other companies in the country produce transformers, ZESA is heavily reliant on imports. ZESA does not have adequate foreign currency since the majority of its customers purchase electricity using local currency, which cannot be used for importing transformers.”
It is reported that cable thieves exploit power outages to steal components from transformers, which they then sell to scrap metal dealers or local steel manufacturers.
Minister Moyo warned that, if unchecked, such practices could undermine any investments made in power generation, as electricity would not reach its intended users in the absence of transformers.
A ZESA employee told the Chronicle that thieves target transformers for their copper coils and oil, both of which have a readily available market on the black market.
“Transformers contain copper coils, which thieves target because they are valuable and have a ready market at scrap yards.
The oil inside transformers is also sought after by companies or businesses that use industrial hydraulics,” said the employee, who requested to remain anonymous.
Industrial hydraulics encompass a wide range of hydraulic machinery used in manufacturing processes, printing, metal forming, stamping, and injection moulding.
ZESA also faces the challenge of replacing deteriorating wooden electricity poles, which leave businesses and homes without power when unattended.
“Wooden poles used by ZESA are sometimes affected by termites. The Government has initiated a programme to replace them with concrete poles, enlisting the help of companies that manufacture these concrete poles,” said Minister Moyo.
He cited instances where fallen wooden poles in remote areas led to delays in fixing the problems.
Last year, ZESA embarked on a bold programme to combat vandalism and theft through a nationwide project to replace copper cables with aluminium ones. This move aimed to render criminal activities unprofitable.
In 2023 alone, ZESA reported a staggering 1 569 cases of theft and vandalism of copper lines. These acts resulted in significant financial losses, totalling over US$3 million.
In Bulawayo, ZESA deployed four teams in the western suburbs and three teams in the eastern areas to replace copper cables with aluminium ones.
Aluminium cables are less valuable on the black market compared to copper cables, which are often stripped from ZESA’s infrastructure and sold illegally.
The citywide effort underscored ZESA’s commitment to ensuring reliable electricity access for residents and businesses throughout Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter