adminreportedly losing millions of United States dollars in revenue because of illegal connections while many lives have been lost due to electrocutions.
The operation dubbed “Theft of electricity and illegal connections” that started on April 15 this year, has so far unearthed numerous cases of meter by-passing, dangerous and unsafe wiring, unsanctioned connections, subletting of power among others.
People face prosecution for illegal connections and self-reconnection of power while unsafe connections attract disconnection.
The Herald understands that the first two weeks of the operation has seen the exposure of at least 33 farms among other households for various breaches.
In Harare, some houses in Tafara and at Retreat Farm have been disconnected over unsafe and illegal connections.
The operation followed a directive by Energy and Power Development Minister Elton Mangoma to identify and rectify such problems to curb cases of electrocution and loss of revenue. Minister Mangoma yesterday said he ordered the investigation to ensure safe transmission of power and avoid loss of revenue.
“We have received reports on electrocution and illegal connections and I have directed Zesa to carry out an audit. We are targeting both the rural and urban settlements but the cases are rampant on the farms.
“So far we have discovered such breaches at Retreat Farm and some houses in Tafara and more cases are coming from the farms.
“Some cases of unsafe connections are too dangerous so as to warrant disconnection while in some cases they have to issue a work order,” said Minister Mangoma.
Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company managing director Mr Julian Chinembiri said a lot of illegal connections throughout the country prompted the launch of the operation.
“The operation was supposed to run from April 15 to May 15 this year but was extended upon discovering that the cases of breaches were too many and that they could not all be attended to within a month,” said Minister Mangoma.
“We are yet to compile the statistics of the findings but the information that we have so far received shows that the farms and compounds are topping the list. In some
cases you see power being transmitted with barbed wire and plastics being used for insulation.
“There are also cases of meter-by-passing and Zesa is losing revenue to people who use electricity for free. When they connect power before the meter (bridging) we are bound to lose revenue.”
Online Reporter