ZESA cuts CSC off

The move has adversely affected the cattle slaughter joint venture with Botswana. Zimbabwe is sourcing beef cattle from Botswana that are slaughtered at the CSC abattoir before the meat is sold locally.

The two countries signed the cattle slaughter deal in 2011 where it was agreed Botswana Meat Commission would supply 20 000 cattle to the CSC. Exports were stopped when CSC reportedly failed to pay BMC more than P2 million for cattle supplied.

However, following a fresh deal, cattle in areas affected by foot-and-mouth disease in Botswana have been prepared for export to Zimbabwe. The latest developments are likely to put the deal on ice.

Workers at the company told The Zimbabwean this week that CSC had been struggling to honour its power bill for some time, a development which had resulted in ZESA cutting off its electricity.

“The electricity was disconnected last week by Zesa. Some of the workers have been sent home and told to come back when the electricity is available. We do not know when the company will raise the money,” said a worker at the company.

The workers said the Bulawayo City Council recently cut water supplies at the company, prompting workers to use buckets for their ablution facilities.

Fearing the possibility of being shut down by health officials, the company paid part of the money owed to the local authority which led to the water being reconnected.

“Officials from the city health’s department nearly closed the abattoir last week because of the serious health problems associated with water cuts. From the way debtors are pouncing on the company, it seems we are going nowhere,” said another worker.

When reached for comment, CSC Chief Executive Officer, Ngoni Chinogaramombe, confirmed the electricity disconnections.

“It’s true we do not have electricity. Right now I do not have the actual figures of how much we owe Zesa but the accounts people have that information,” said Chinogaramombe.