Chronicle Editor
Thandeka Matebesi, Business Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) is in the process of formulating a comprehensive database of the country’s electrical wiremen as it forges ahead to formalise their operations.
Addressing delegates at an Electricity (Energy Management) Regulations Stakeholder forum in Bulawayo last week, Zera senior engineer Samuel Zaranyika said the energy regulator was in the process of engaging the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) to compile a list of all the country’s electrical contractors.
“We have asked ZETDC to submit to us a list of all the electrical contractors in all the five regions that is Harare, Western, Southern, Northern and Eastern. We have asked them to submit names of all contractors who hold the requisite qualifications, who are working on installations such that time will come that if anybody does an installation and if it hasn’t been done by any one of those people on the list, it will not be on us,” said Eng Zaranyika.
He said upon the compilation of the database, a list of the country’s electrical contractors would be available on the ZETDC’s website.
“People will just have to visit the ZETDC website to choose the contractor and ZETDC will verify and confirm the contractor’s qualifications and then they will be considered for the job,” said Eng Zaranyika.
He also revealed that Zera was lobbying the Government to consider relaxing import duty on all apparatus and machinery used in the manufacturing of energy efficient products.
“The relaxation of import duty on electricity efficient products is already in place but we are looking forward to extending the number of products on which preferential duty applies. The preferential duty is already in existence but we are trying to have it taken off altogether, for components which are used to manufacture energy efficient products to stimulate the local manufacturers of those products,” said Eng Zaranyika.
Online Reporter