Zesa completes massive meter rollout project

Rutendo Nyeve, Victoria Falls Reporter

THE Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) has successfully migrated 99 percent of its customers in Bulawayo’s historic suburbs from old metering systems to a modern prepaid metering system. The completion of the project, which began in 2020, promises to improve the utility’s financial stability and offer greater convenience for residents.

The project targeted some of the city’s oldest suburbs, including Mzilikazi, Makokoba, Nguboyenja, Mpopoma, Entumbane, Njube, Iminyela, Mabutweni, Lobengula, Emakhandeni, Magwegwe, Pumula, Luveve and Tshabalala. These areas previously had a high concentration of unmetered connections and fixed meters, which made accurate billing and revenue collection almost impossible.

In a statement, Zesa Stakeholder Relations detailed the challenging journey, noting that the project initially started in 2020 but was suspended due to a critical shortage of materials.

“What began as an almost impossible mission to modernise the power grid in Bulawayo’s oldest suburbs has culminated in a significant victory for both the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) and the region’s residents. After a multi-year effort, the Western Region has successfully migrated a vast majority of its customers from obsolete load limiters and looped circuits to a more efficient prepaid metering system,” said Zesa Stakeholder Relations.

The mission was reignited in 2024, with the momentum carrying into 2025, ultimately leading to the clearing of 99 percent of the outstanding points.

For ZETDC, the primary benefit of this migration is financial. The obsolete systems were a major contributor to high levels of debt and revenue losses.

“The new prepaid system ensures that payment is made before electricity is consumed, drastically improving cash flow and allowing for more accurate financial forecasting,” the statement said.

The new system also allows Zesa to recover existing customer debt by deducting it from token purchases, a method that has significantly reduced outstanding amounts.

For residents, the shift to prepaid meters allows them to monitor their electricity consumption in real-time and budget accordingly, eliminating the need for estimated bills. The successful rollout in Bulawayo is expected to serve as a blueprint for other parts of the country still reliant on outdated metering technology.

“We are very happy because we were already facing a challenge of people who were with load limiters feeling short changed because, regardless of load shedding, they were still required to pay for the same amount for a service which was not there. We are sure now people will now be paying for a service that they will be getting,” said Bulawayo Residents Association (BURA) Chairman Mr Winos Dube.

With Zesa now poised to recover more revenue, including outstanding debts, residents anticipate a significant improvement in service delivery, said Mr Dube.