The protests started simultaneously at four different points in the city centre before the demonstrators, chanting WOZA slogans, converged on the Power Station to deliver 63 000 signatures that remained after police seized the million signatures on the ‘anti abuse of power’ petition signatures. As they marched they distributed flyers. They also delivered ‘red cards’ and 4 mock coffins symbolising the need for ‘parliament to bury ZESA’ or remove the monopoly.
“The protest is to demand that ZESA stop cutting off defaulters while they are unable to provide a full service. Many feel they would be better off with prepaid meters than paying a full bill for a part service,” said national coordinator Jenni Williams.
“More than 50 percent of homes pay fixed charge .If they don’t pay they are cut off and they do not get any discount for power cuts and are charged interest on back and estimate bills. These are some of the reasons why WOZA is giving ZESA a red card,” said Williams.
Passersby commended the activists for dealing ‘with ZESA’ and said at least the police ‘allowed’ them time to dance at the ZESA office.
After the protests two more groups, bringing the number of arrests to 20, with at least two members being handcuffed. Lawyers have been deployed.
WOZA’s research in 1 434 households and found that an average home spends 101 hours per month without electricity. Last week hundreds of residents in Tshabalala and Sizinda high density suburbs also demonstrated at the ZESA’s offices over the disconnection of power.
Post published in: Politics