Zesa to disconnect all defaulting customers

Zesa is owed $450 million by electricity consumers.
Addressing a press conference in Harare yesterday, Minister Mangoma said some people have not paid their bills since 2009.
They continued to receive uninterrupted electricity supplies.
The Minister said the culture of not paying bills has to stop.
“Zesa has availed to customers a facility to propose workable payment plans, and regrettably some have chosen either to ignore this facility or not to honour their payment plans, leaving Zesa with no option except to withdraw supplies,” he said.
“Power disconnections are currently being applied wholesomely to ensure that all customer categories meet their obligation of paying for service rendered. All customers currently in arrears run the risk of disconnections.”
Minister Mangoma said the disconnections will be done after a five day notice.
Zesa, he said, was banking on money it is owed by its customers to settle its own debt with HCB because Government was broke.
The Minister said Zesa Holdings had always enjoyed cordial relations with Hydro Cahorra Basa.
“Plans have been put in place to ensure that Zesa conforms to an agreed payment plan. Currently, the debt stands at about $80 million, down from $100 million a few months ago,” he said.
“A further payment of $40 million is planned for in the near future and arrangements for this are at an advanced stage. The HCB debt has to be serviced well if we are to avoid disconnection. A delegation of HCB is coming this Sunday for further negotiations with Zesa and we need to provide a concrete payment plan,” Minister Mangoma said.
He said Zesa was definitely going to disconnect defaulters.
“To avoid disconnection, or for those who have been disconnected, so as to be reconnected — a minimum  down payment of 25 percent of the total bill has to be paid.
“Balance has to be paid in an approved payment plan with Zesa for a period not exceeding six months. Any customer who breaches the payment plan will be disconnected immediately without further notice. Current bills must be paid in full,” he said.
Minister Mangoma said the ministry has taken a position that all defaulting customers will have their service withdrawn to encourage them to settle their bills.
“This policy will be applied to all customers fairly, without fear or favour. May I make it clear that the current disconnection exercise is not sparing anyone,” he said.
Minister Mangoma said his ministry has received information that some of the Zesa bills were inaccurate while others were fraudulent.
He said he has directed Zesa to attend to all queries to the satisfaction of customers.
The minister said the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission Distribution Company has concluded contract negotiations with successful bidders on the prepaid metering project.
The ministry intends to have the meters installed over a period of 18 months.
“Zesa has since exhausted the 10 000 prepaid meters it had in its inventory and is concluding negotiations with four suppliers of meters over installation,” said Minister Mangoma.