The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA), has lost over 2 200 transformers to thieves countrywide.
This has made it difficult for the power utility to supply electricity to its consumers.
According to the Minister of Energy and Power Development, Fortune Chasi, vandalised/stolen transformers in different regions are as follows, Northern Region: Mashonaland provinces: 927 Western Region: Matabeleland: 625
Harare Region: 575 Southern Region: Midlands: 94 Eastern Region: Manicaland and Masvingo: lost 16.
In an interview with The Herald, Chasi said that the government is looking for technologies that will prevent vandalism of electricity infrastructure. He said:
If you look at the statistics, you will realise that it’s spread nationally and this presents a huge challenge in terms of curbing the vice.
At Government level, we are obviously looking at technologies that can be used to deter this kind of economic sabotage, but before we register success on that front, there is a need for the people of Zimbabwe to take a position and say we can’t allow this to continue by reporting all perpetrators.
Because at this rate, it doesn’t matter how much money we invest in generation, if we don’t have transformers or we continue to lose them like this, then generation investment will not count for anything.