The practice is financially prejudicing the power utility, Zesa. The welders who connect their high power consumption machines directly to Zesa meters to avoid meter reading confirmed that they were bribing officials in order for them to remain in business.
“Zesa officials regularly visit our backyard businesses and we silence them by bribing them. I can’t afford to pay the bill for a legal connection,” said a welder in Chitungwiza.
Another welder said the high consumption of power by the welding machines was leaving them with no choice but to connect directly to the meters. Energy and Power Development Minister, Elton Mangoma recently called for such problems to be investigated in order to curb cases of electrocution and 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 such cases are rampant on farms,” said Mangoma.
The power utility, which is battling to settle foreign debts, has also failed to recover hundreds of millions of dollars owed by customers who argue that Zesa has a poor debt management system. Users say the utility has no clear debt-collection strategy apart from the unpopular power disconnections.
Post published in: News