Story by Fairstars Mukungurutse
RESIDENTS of Kambuzuma suburb in Harare have sent a distress call on account of electricity cables left unattended after vandalism by copper cable thieves.
The sight of electricity cables dangling precariously in a highly populated area has left residents in a state of panic.
ZBC gathers, the cables were left unattended after thieves stole copper cables in Harare’s Kambuzuma section 6 area.
Residents who have been left in danger of being electrocuted appealed to the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) to treat the issue as a matter of urgency.
“We appeal for responsible authorities to come and repair the naked cables because this is death in waiting, ZESA should secure the copper cables so that thieves won’t vandalize willy-nilly,” said one resident.
“We fear for our little children when they go outside to play, if they touch the naked cables, that’s the end of the story. The load shedding is too much, imagine electricity switches off around 5 in the morning and comes back at midnight. Obviously, thieves will take advantage of that,” lamented another.
ZESA Corporate Communications, Mr George Manyaya said the power utility lost US$4 million worth of power infrastructure to vandalism and theft last year.
Theft and vandalism of ZESA property has resulted in some areas going for long periods without electricity.
