Staff Reporter
BEITBRIDGE residents have accused the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority of negligence after a power outage lasted more than 24 hours.
Many called the power utility insensitive to businesses dependent on power while under the current hot conditions many residents are likely to lose perishables at home.
Officials at the Beitbridge border post running on emergency generators said the cost was not sustainable and called on Zesa authorities to be “serious”.
The Zesa Stakeholder Relations Executive Corporate Affairs executive Alaina Suliwa said the fault was being attended to and power would be resyore in the shortest possible time.
Suliwa did not reveal the nature of the fault.
Former Beitbridge Ward 5 councillor Granger Nyoni said Zesa is taking oeople for granted and should be proactive rather than crisis reaction.
“When you move around you see poles that need attention but Zesanworkers do not maintain or correct those issues. Each time they wait for faults to react. This is not right, many oeople are going to throw away food and noone compensates them,” said Nyoni.
It is understood some power masts were dropped by the strong winds which swept across tye district affecting power supply line.
At the Beitbridge border post which handles the bulk of regional transport, pperations were being run on generators.
Zimborders general manager Nqobile Ncube said he was not on duty and was not up to date.
“This is not sustainable. You cannot run a big station like this on generators. A power outage should not last long at a place like Beitbridge. Running the border becomes expensive. An automated border like this runs on power,” said one official.
In shops and industries residents of the town of 60 000 were dejected and hopeless since most activities hinged on electricity.
“I had just slaughtered 200 birds and this is going to be a huge loss. Its sad because there is noone you can sue,” said a chicken farmer.
Bottle store and restaurant owners complained their beverages were hot and unattractive to customers.