Zesa loses US$11 million to vandalism, theft

Amanda Mlevu, Sunday News Reporter

THE Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) has lost more than US$11 million in over 3000 cases of vandalism and theft that occurred in a period of only two and a half years.

In an interview with Sunday News, Zesa Loss Control general manager, Mr Festo Madembo said the company lost a cumulative amount of US$11 055 211 in the 3003 cases of vandalism and theft of its property from 2021 up to date. This year from January to June, the company recorded 777 cases of vandalism and theft of Zesa infrastructure valued at US$1 million.

“So far, the company has had 777 cases of vandalism and theft of Zesa infrastructure. It has so far lost US$1 795 054 in the last six months.

This year there might be more cases compared to the previous years as theft of Zesa national infrastructure continues to be a cause of concern. Because of this huge cost incurred due to vandalism, we have declared war against such acts because they are a threat to national infrastructure and to the overall attainment of 2030 national development goal,” said Mr Madembo.

He said in 2021 Zesa had 1 237 cases of vandalism and theft valued at US$4 406 685, while a total of 166 arrests and seven convictions resulted in total prison sentences of 60 years. Mr Madembo said in 2022 there were 1 766 cases valued at US$4 853 632. A total of 288 arrests were made and the cumulative sentences were of 452 years and two months.

The Crime Prevention Work Group (CPWG) and Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) recommended the banning of scrap metal export to stifle easy passage of stolen copper cables across borders, something which other SAPP members such as South Africa, Namibia and Malawi have since adopted.

“As the utility, we have since lobbied through the Ministry of Energy and Power Development last year to stop the issuance of scrap/copper export licences and copper dealership licences to non-mining and non-manufacturing companies,” said Mr Madembo.
He said there were assumptions that people cross borders to sell copper cables acquired through theft.
“Some of the reasons could be the advert of green technology against the dwindling productivity of copper global output, an available copper mine is one of the major contributing factors to vandalism.”