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Fungai Lupande-Mash Central Bureau
ZESA Holdings has embarked on transformer target hardening to curb rampant theft and vandalism, acting loss control manager Engineer Shepherd Dadi has said.
Speaking during the launch of the anti-vandalism campaign in Glendale Eng Dadi said target hardening makes it difficult for transformers to be stolen.
He advised people with welding machines and generators who want the service to approach their nearest ZESA office.
Eng Dadi said all copper lines were being replaced with aluminium.
“If ZESA was not losing revenue towards replacing stolen or vandalised infrastructure they could have increased client rate from 100 000.
“The mandate of ZESA is to provide adequate, safe and affordable electricity supply but this mandate is under attack from organised criminals who are vandalising and stealing ZESA assets and infrastructure.
“Daily we receive reports of acts of vandalism on copper conductor, aluminium conductor, copper cable, transformers, transformer oil, wood poles, angle irons, bolts and nuts,” he said.
He said distribution of vandalism cases shows overhead copper conductors accounting for 36 percent, underground cables 30 percent and transformers 23 percent.
“This is nothing short of economic sabotage and as such calls for a collective effort in addressing and bringing the perpetrators to book,” he said.
“Theft and vandalism of national infrastructure is targeted and have an overall effect of derailing national economic activity. This year ZESA has recorded 535 cases of vandalism coasting US$1,5 million.
“It is expensive to replace vandalised equipment because 90 percent of our equipment is imported. These thieves are at high risk of loss of life.”
Eng Dadi said there were 127 cases for year 2020 and 2021, but some of the cases are still outstanding at court with varied reasons, while 2022 has 57 cases.
“Most cases are taken to court where they are initially remanded for several times without trial and thereafter are ordered to proceed by way of summons,” he said.
“Vandalism of ZESA assets and infrastructure causes inability for the organisation to restore power timeously as expected since outages are not as a result of planned outages.
“ZESA has informer incentivising and whistle blower scheme. People can report using toll free numbers Econet 08080539, Netone 08018888.
“We are lobbying for legislative amendments Copper Control Act amendments to make sentences stiffer to 20 years, amendments to allows junior judicial officials to preside over the cases and amend fines to custodial sentences.”
Online Reporter