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Sukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
ZESA has started installing pre-paid meters in Plumtree Town, an exercise expected to be completed next month.
The development has however sparked an outcry from residents who are questioning the huge debts they have been advised to clear.
When this reporter visited Zesa premises on Wednesday a number of disgruntled residents had failed to open new accounts because of arrears.
A majority of residents from Rangiore low-density area said they had not been issued with account numbers for a long time but were shocked to discover that they owed Zesa large amounts.
“I am not satisfied with the introduction of pre-paid meters at all because Zesa is coming up with inflated bills just to fleece us of our hard earned money. A number of households within our suburb have not been issued with account numbers.
“We were constantly inquiring from the Zesa office on the issue but to no avail and we were not receiving any bills. I was shocked to learn that I owe Zesa $1 500 and I have to pay $300 to open a pre-paid meter account,” said Mr Cephas Dube, a resident.
A number of residents said they would resort to living without power as they could not afford paying the money demanded by the power utility.
A businessperson who did not have an account said she was in shock as Zesa is saying she owes $8 000, which accumulated over the past three years.
“Last week I was inquiring with Zesa on my account but I was told I would have one opened soon. It was difficult for me to pay without an account and surprisingly in a space of a few days the office has compiled my records and suddenly I owe Zesa $8 000 yet all along they were not billing me,” she said.
Plumtree Residents Association chairman Mr Paulos Ncube said the Zesa office owed people an explanation regarding the bills.
“The debts which people are being advised to pay are based on wrong estimates. The Zesa workers were carrying out meter readings once in four months but residents were being issued with bills every month. “How then are people expected to pay bills that are based on estimates which are way above actual consumption. Some people are not even issued with statements that explain their debts but the information is just communicated through word of mouth once you go to the Zesa offices,” he said.
Mr Ncube said the residents were also expecting undisrupted power supplies since there were pre-paid meters now.
“Zesa has now become our permanent debtor and we expect the company to deliver to the fullest. We expect power cuts to come to an end in the town because people would have paid upfront for the service,” he said.
Mr Ncube said there was a need for people to be educated on the pre-paid meter reading system.
The installation of pre-paid meters was launched in the town on Tuesday.
At the moment the pre-paid meters are being installed at business premises, Government offices and for domestic consumers.
Online Reporter