Sundaymail Editor
Lea Mutanda
POWER utility ZESA, will in the next few weeks, embark on a massive debt collection exercise and will disable meters from defiant debtors nationwide.
The move is targeted at recovering more than $1 billion the parastatal is owed by industrial and domestic customers.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail, Energy and Power Development Deputy Minister Dr Magna Mudyiwa said the power company would also institute legal proceeding against some debtors.
“About $1,1 billion is owed (to Zesa) by customers. Disconnection of defaulting customers will begin within the next few weeks once the necessary logistics have been put in place, such as fuel (for the teams conducting the exercise),” she said.
“Those that remain defiant will be referred for legal actions. They also risk permanent disconnection.”
Dr Mudyiwa said customers who have prepaid meters and had a legacy debt will not be affected since they were already paying what they owe whenever they top-up their electricity.
She said any variations for debtors with prepaid meters will be considered separately.
Online Reporter