The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) will carry out mandatory inspections and re-inspections across the country.
In a notice released on Thursday, 27 March, ZETDC said these inspections are meant to ensure the safety and reliability of electrical systems, helping to protect the lives and property of electricity users. ZETDC said:
<blockquote>
Recent incidents of house fires and electrical accidents underscore the critical importance of maintaining safe electrical installations.
These inspections are not just procedural, but are a vital step in preventing potentially devastating consequences.
Unsafe wiring, faulty connections, and non-compliant installations pose serious risks to electricity users and members of the public.
ZETDC is dedicated to ensuring that all electrical systems meet the highest safety standards. These inspections will identify and rectify potential hazards, minimizing the risk of electrical fires, shocks, and other dangers.
</blockquote>
To facilitate these essential safety measures, ZETDC announced that a fee of US$25 will be charged to all customers for statutory inspections and re-inspections.
For generator verification and safety inspections, the fee for generators up to 100KW (petrol, diesel, solar, wind, etc.) is US$5, while for generators above 100KW, the fee increases to US$50.
For advanced safety inspections, owners of generators below 100KW will pay US$20, while those with generators above 100KW will pay US$100. Operators of prototype generators below 100KW will also be required to pay US$100.
The power utility further advised its customers that all payments must be made through official ZETDC payment platforms, and a receipt will be provided as proof of payment. ZETDC said that no payments should be made to individuals during the inspection process. ZETDC added:
<blockquote>
We understand that inspections may cause some inconvenience, but the safety of your family and property is paramount. We urge all customers to cooperate fully with our inspection teams.
By adhering to these statutory requirements and cooperating with ZETDC, we can collectively create a safer environment for everyone.
The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) will be closely monitoring that these inspections are done within the confines of the regulations to ensure the safety of all installations.
</blockquote>
However, ZETDC did not specify the start and end dates for the inspections and re-inspections.

Pindula News

Zimbabwe's electricity company, ZETDC, will check all buildings for safety. They want to prevent fires and accidents caused by bad wiring. Customers will have to pay a fee for these inspections. The fee depends on the size of the generator. Customers must pay through official ZETDC platforms and get a receipt. ZETDC wants everyone to cooperate and follow the safety rules. The government will make sure the inspections are done properly. Dates for the inspections were not mentioned.

ZESA To Conduct Mandatory Inspections And Re-Inspections On All Premises Countrywide

The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) is investigating an incident in Hwange where three villagers suffered electric shock after touching fallen ZESA power lines.
One of the victims, a 17-year-old boy, died from his injuries at the United Bulawayo Hospitals while receiving treatment. The other two victims are still in the hospital.
ZERA CEO Edington Mazambani told Southern Eye that the initial report from the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company suggested the incident was not fatal. Said Mazambani:
<blockquote>
The authority then met with the mother of the now-deceased at United Bulawayo Hospitals while the victim was still being treated.
The authority will be travelling to Hwange this week for the investigation.
The authority is conducting public awareness campaigns in rural communities to educate members of the public to desist from getting into contact with fallen electric conductors and poles.
We are also engaging the utility to ensure that it carries out routine maintenance on its infrastructure.
</blockquote>
Villagers reported that the power lines had been lying on the ground for over three years, and the situation had been brought to the attention of the authorities several times, but nothing had been done to address the issue.
Ward 12 Nakabandana councillor Jowan Chuma placed the blame for the teenager’s death squarely on the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company and accused the power utility of negligence.
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/southerneye/local/article/200039779/zera-investigates-hwange-electrocution-incident">Southern Eye</a>

ZERA is looking into an accident in Hwange where 3 people got shocked by ZESA power lines. One of them, a 17-year-old boy, passed away. The other 2 are still in the hospital. ZERA is checking the situation and advising people to stay away from fallen power lines. The villagers had complained about the lines being on the ground for years but nothing was done. A councilor blamed the power company for the boy's death. ZERA will investigate the incident further and is working to make sure power lines are safe.

ZERA Probes Electrocution Incident In Hwange

Two Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) contract workers, including a 15-year-old Mozambican, were electrocuted while on duty in Hlabiso Village, Rusitu, Chimanimani, last Wednesday.
The victims, Erai Raimon, a Mozambican national and Givemore Maphosa from Mashiri Village in Maridheya, were working on a Lower Tension (LT) line that connects the Hlabiso main line to the Jozi homestead in the same village.
Assistant Inspector Chinyoka, the acting spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) in Manicaland Province, confirmed the incident to the <a href="https://www.manicapost.co.zw/negligence-blamed-for-two-contract-workers-electrocution/">Manica Post</a>.
He said the workers died while on duty after their manager reportedly assigned them the task without ensuring that the power supply to the line was turned off.
Assistant Inspector Chinyoka also said the two victims worked for Hidden Well Contractors, a company owned by Richard Mushayanembeu. He said:
<blockquote>
On January 22, around 7 AM, Givemore Maphosa and Erai Raimon, both general hand employees for Hidden Well Contractors, were tasked with repairing an LT line from Hlabiso main line to Jozi homestead, where a nine-metre electrical pole had fallen.
They worked under the supervision of their manager, Tawanda Matsatswa. While digging a hole for the pole, their manager left to source additional manpower but forgot to switch off the power supply from the main line.
Although there was an electricity blackout in the area at the time, power was restored while the two were still working on the LT line.
Upon Matsatswa’s return, he found the lifeless bodies of the two on the ground and immediately switched off the power at the main line.
Matsatswa informed Mushayanembeu about the incident who reported it to ZRP Chimanimani.
When ZRP Chimanimani and ZETDC officials arrived at the scene, they found evidence of electrical burns on the hands and legs of the deceased duo.
Their bodies were still in contact with the power lines. The two bodies were taken to Chipinge District Hospital mortuary for a post-mortem
</blockquote>

Two workers in Zimbabwe were electrocuted while fixing a power line. The accident happened because their manager forgot to turn off the power supply. The workers were working on a broken pole when the power suddenly came back on. They were found dead on the ground with burns on their bodies. Their bodies were touching the power lines. The two workers were taken to the hospital for examination. The company they worked for is being blamed for not following safety rules.

Two Workers Electrocuted On ZESA Line Following Unexpected Power Return

A 6-year-old girl was reportedly electrocuted last week in the presence of workers from the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) at her home in Beitbridge.
ZETDC is a subsidiary of ZESA Holdings, the state-owned firm tasked with generating, transmitting, and distributing electricity in the country.
According to <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200037769/electrocuted-girl-buried">NewsDay</a>, Nothando Vurayayi was laid to rest in her home village near Sosera Halt, Bikita.
ZETDC covered the funeral expenses, which included the coffin, food, hearse, and transportation for mourners who travelled from Beitbridge for her final journey.
When approached by NewsDay for a comment, Alaina Suliwa, ZETDC’s stakeholder relations executive, declined to provide specific details about the organisation’s involvement, saying only that a thorough investigation with other stakeholders is underway. Said Suliwa:
<blockquote>
All I can say at the moment is an investigation to establish the exact circumstance is ongoing. We will share details when the exercise has been completed.
</blockquote>
A relative of the deceased said they had a meeting with ZETDC officials at their office. He said:
<blockquote>
We ended up going to their office where they offered to meet all the expenses for the funeral, which they did.
We buried Nothando in Vurayayi village near Sosera Halt and Pamushana Mission.
</blockquote>
It is alleged that ZETDC workers improperly connected an earth cable to a water tap, which Nothando and her friend approached to drink from when the tragic electrocution occurred.
When her friend attempted to pull her away, she was thrown against a fence by the electric current, which had been connected directly to test a faulty meter.
In the moments following the accident, ZETDC workers attempted to resuscitate Nothando, who had just begun school this year, but their efforts were unsuccessful.
They subsequently transported her to a doctor, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

A 6-year-old girl named Nothando Vurayayi was electrocuted in front of ZESA workers at her home in Zimbabwe. ZESA is a company that provides electricity in the country. The workers were trying to fix a faulty meter and connected it to a water tap by mistake. Nothando and her friend got electrocuted when they tried to drink from the tap. ZESA paid for Nothando's funeral expenses. Nothando's family met with ZESA officials, who promised to investigate the incident. Nothando's friend also got hurt when she tried to save her. Despite the ZESA workers' efforts to save her, Nothando passed away.

6-Year-Old Girl Electrocuted In Front ZESA Workers

Four men were arrested in Mutoko, Mashonaland East this week for allegedly vandalising Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) transformers and stealing armoured cables at Mushimbo and Rukau Business Centres.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirmed the arrests in a statement on their official X page, saying the suspects were apprehended at a roadblock on Harare-Nyamapanda Road on Monday. Police said:
<blockquote>
Police in Mutoko acted on received information and arrested Anderson Takawira alias Tatenda Vambe (30) , Isaac Vheremu (38), Trymore Bona (30) and Archford Chiyangwa (25) at a roadblock along Harare Nyamapanda Road on 27/01/25 in connection with vandalism of a ZETDC transformer and theft of armoured cables.
The arrest led to the recovery of the suspects’ getaway car, a Toyota Aqua , reg number AGF 9536, bolts, nuts, two scales , spanners, a knife and armoured cables.
The suspects are being linked to a case of vandalism of a ZETDC transformer at Mushimbo Business Centre where transformer oil was stolen on 27/01/25 and a case of theft of ZETDC copper cables at Rukau Business Centre, Mutoko on 27/01/25 where a transformer was vandalised before armoured cables were stolen.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, in a separate case, Caleb Chivhanga (25) of Chinhoyi has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for possessing 0.85g of copper without a license, in violation of the Copper Control Act [Chapter 14:06].
According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Chivhanga was found with bundled copper wire on January 1, 2025, at Musakwa Village in Chinhoyi.

Four men were caught by police in Mutoko for breaking transformers and stealing cables from ZETDC. The men were arrested at a roadblock and their car, tools, and stolen cables were found. They were linked to stealing transformer oil and copper cables from two different places. The suspects are now in trouble for their crimes.

Four Suspects Held In Mutoko For ZETDC Transformer Vandalism And Cable Theft

A 30-minute nationwide power outage in Zambia over the weekend was due to a technical fault in the interconnected power networks between it and Zimbabwe, a senior government official has said.
Addressing the media in the capital Lusaka on Monday, Peter Mumba, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Energy, said state power utility ZESCO Limited worked diligently to resolve the outage, which occurred Sunday evening. He said (via <a href="https://www.aa.com.tr/en/africa/zambia-says-power-outage-caused-by-fault-in-interconnected-network-with-zimbabwe/3404401">AA</a>):
<blockquote>
During the power outage, there were two mines that had people trapped underground. These mines included a Chinese mine in Chambishi and Mopani Mine at Mindolo shaft. The people who were trapped were all safely rescued as the mines were supplied with an alternative power supply.
</blockquote>
Thabo Kawana, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Media, said that no loss of life occurred in hospitals due to the power outage.
Kawana said that key institutions, including the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia’s largest referral health facility, had power restored within 30 minutes and are equipped with backup power sources.
ZESCO Acting Managing Director Justin Loongo said the Southern African Power Pool is investigating the source of the outage.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Over the weekend, Zambia had a 30-minute power outage because of a problem with the power networks connected to Zimbabwe. ZESCO Limited worked to fix the issue. Some people were trapped in mines during the outage but were safely rescued. No one in the hospitals died because of the power cut. Important places like the University Teaching Hospital got power back quickly with backup sources. The Southern African Power Pool is looking into what caused the problem. All is back to normal now.

"Power Outage In Zimbabwe And Zambia Due To Technical Fault In Interconnected Networks"

A power surge on Sunday night caused widespread blackouts in both Zimbabwe and Zambia, plunging the two southern African countries into darkness.
Both nations are already grappling with an ongoing power crisis, largely due to the declining water levels at Lake Kariba, which is a key source of hydroelectric power for both countries.
Zambia’s power utility, ZESCO Limited, confirmed that the system disturbance occurred just after 8 PM on Sunday. Said ZESCO acting managing director Justin Loongo:
<blockquote>
ZESCO Limited informs the nation that the country has experienced a power system disturbance today, 24 November 2024 at 20:15 hours leading to loss of power supply that has affected the whole country.
The Corporation is working diligently to resolve the unplanned outage and power supply restoration is underway.
ZESCO will keep the country updated of this unforeseen development.
We regret the unplanned loss of supply and seek our customers’ support and patience.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe’s power utility, ZESA Holdings, also confirmed last night’s “system disturbance” which left the country in darkness. It said:
<blockquote>
We regret to advise our valued customers that the national grid experienced a system disturbance last night resulting in a system blackout. Our engineers reacted and began the restoration process.
We are happy to advise that as of this morning, most of the load centres have been picked countrywide. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Zambia and Zimbabwe had a blackout on Sunday due to too much power. They already have less power because the water levels are low in the lake that makes electricity. Zambia said sorry for the problem and is fixing it. Zimbabwe is also trying to fix the blackout. They hope to have power back soon. Both countries are working hard to solve the issue. Everyone is upset but they are doing their best to bring back electricity.

Zambia Faces Electricity Blackout Due To "System Disturbance"

Zimbabwe experienced a nationwide electricity blackout on Sunday night into Monday morning, prompting widespread frustration on social media.
The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) confirmed the outage in a statement issued on Monday, attributing it to a disturbance in the national grid that led to a system-wide blackout. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
We regret to advise our valued customers that the national grid experienced a system disturbance last night resulting in a system blackout.
Our Engineers reacted and began the restoration process. We are happy to advise that as of this morning most of the load centres have been picked countrywide.
</blockquote>
The blackout further exacerbated the frustration of Zimbabweans already enduring frequent power shortages, with some major urban areas, like Chitungwiza, experiencing up to 20 hours of daily power cuts.
In other parts of the country, people are enduring outages lasting up to a week, often without any explanation from the power utility.
Despite having the installed capacity at its power stations, ZESA is struggling to generate enough electricity to meet demand.
Hwange Power Station is currently producing around 1,000 MW, while Kariba Power Station, typically the most reliable, is operating at just a tenth of its installed capacity due to falling water levels at Kariba Dam.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Zimbabwe had a big power cut making everything dark. The power company said there was a problem with the national grid. They are now fixing it. People in cities like Chitungwiza already had lots of power cuts, some lasting a week. The power stations are not making enough electricity. Hwange Power Station is only making 1,000 MW, and Kariba Power Station is only making a little bit because the water level is low. People are frustrated and want more power.

ZESA "System Disturbance" Plunges Zimbabwe Into Darkness

Kudakwashe Choga, a 50-year-old resident of Mvuma, recently appeared in court for stealing 364 units of electricity from the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), a subsidiary of ZESA Holdings.
Choga was charged in the Mvuma Magistrates’ Court with violating the Electricity Act, which prohibits the unlawful abstraction or diversion of electricity current.
The Act states that it is illegal to “abstract or divert any electric current or cause any electric current to be abstracted or diverted, or knowingly use any electric current which has been unlawfully abstracted or diverted.”
The court heard that from March 26 to May 2, 2024, Choga tampered with the electricity line conductor supplying power to his meter.
He connected the conductor directly to his load, effectively bypassing the meter and avoiding payment for the electricity consumed.
As a result of his actions, Choga caused ZETDC to suffer a loss of 364 units of electricity, valued at ZWL$1,237.60.
He was sentenced to six months in prison, with four months suspended on the condition that he restitutes the ZWL$1,237.60 by November 30, 2024.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

A 50-year-old man named Kudakwashe Choga from Mvuma stole 364 units of electricity from ZESA. This is against the law. He tampered with the electricity line to bypass the meter and not pay for the electricity he used. As a result, ZESA lost money. Choga was sentenced to six months in jail. He can avoid two months of jail time if he pays back the money he owes by a certain date. It is important to follow the law and pay for the services we use.

Mvuma Man (50) Jailed For Stealing 364 Units Of Electricity From ZESA

Zimbabwe’s power generation is expected to decline further in the coming months as Units 7 and 8 of the Hwange Thermal Power Station, which provide nearly half of the country’s electricity, are scheduled for Class C maintenance—a statutory requirement.
This maintenance will remove 600 MW from the grid at a time when output from Kariba has fallen to just 215 MW.
Consequently, Zimbabwe will rely on five operational units at Hwange (1, 2, 3, 4, and 6), many of which are prone to breakdowns.
Class C maintenance involves more comprehensive tasks than routine maintenance. This type of maintenance is scheduled periodically and includes detailed inspections of critical components and systems to identify potential issues that may not be evident during regular checks.
It also encompasses complete overhauls of major equipment, such as turbines, generators, and boilers, ensuring they operate efficiently and safely. 
Additionally, extensive testing and calibration of instruments and control systems are conducted to maintain accuracy and reliability.
Gloria Magombo, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, said that Zimbabwe has licenced Independent Power Producer (IPP) projects totalling nearly 2,000 MW in solar energy and 920 MW in coal.
However, most of these projects remain unimplemented because investors require a stable environment and government guarantees on returns.
Magombo said that the average electricity demand during winter was 2,300 MW, while the average supply stood at only 1,550 MW.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Zimbabwe's power might decrease because Hwange Units 7 and 8 are undergoing maintenance. This will remove 600 MW from the grid. The country will have to rely on other units at Hwange, which sometimes break down. The maintenance involves checking critical parts to make sure everything works well. Zimbabwe has licensed projects for solar and coal energy, but they are not implemented yet. More power is needed than what is currently available.

Power Crisis Looms As Hwange Units 7 And 8 Go Offline For Maintenance

The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), a subsidiary of ZESA Holdings, has successfully transitioned 95% of its domestic and small business customers from a post-paid to a prepaid billing system.
ZESA Executive Chairman Sydney Gata recently disclosed that the power utility is owed over ZiG5.7 billion by its customers, which includes domestic households, industries, commercial entities, and government departments.
In a recent statement, ZETDC announced that all medium and large customers in the commercial, industrial, tourism, and mining sectors, and institutions still on post-paid billing will be required to switch to prepaid billing for their electricity consumption starting next month. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
ZETDC would like to advise its valued customers that the migration of domestic and small business customers from post-paid platform to the prepaid platform has progressed well with 95% of the customers on the new platform.
This notice serves to advise that ALL medium and large customers in the Commercial, Industrial, Tourism, Mining sectors and Institutions that are still on postpaid billing, will be required to Prepay for their electricity consumption with effect from 01 October 2024.
Customers are therefore advised to settle all their outstanding bills by 30 September 2024, and implementation modalities will be communicated to account holders ahead of implementation.
Customers can contact their account managers or their nearest customer service centre for more information and assistance during the transition.
The prepayment system will empower customers in managing their electricity consumption and capacitate the utility in improving service delivery and achieving energy security.
</blockquote>
Gata said as of August 12, 2024, the mining industry owed the power company ZIG684.8 million, or 12% of the total debt, while industrial users owed ZESA 50% of the debt, or ZiG2.8 billion.
The amount owed by domestic consumers is ZiG84.6 million (1%) while the amount owed by commercial debtors is ZiG656.99 million (12%).
This substantial debt has placed considerable strain on ZESA’s financial position, restricting its capacity to invest in infrastructure and cover operational costs.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZESA, a power company in Zimbabwe, has moved 95% of its residential and small business customers to prepaid electricity billing. Customers owe ZESA a lot of money, which is making it hard for the company to invest in new equipment. ZESA will require big businesses to switch to prepaid billing too, starting next month. This move is meant to help customers manage their electricity use better and help ZESA improve its service. The transition for these big customers will start on October 1, 2024.

ZESA Migrates 95% Of Domestic Users To Prepaid Electricity Billing

The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), a subsidiary of the country’s power utility ZESA Holdings, has called on its customers with solar systems to consider exporting their excess energy into the grid through net metering.
This appeal comes at a time when Zimbabwe is experiencing a serious power crisis, with depressed generation at the country’s major power stations – Kariba and Hwange.
Kariba South Power Station, with an installed capacity of 1,050MW, is currently producing only 292MW due to low water levels at Lake Kariba.
Hwange Power Station’s ageing Units 1 to 6 are generating a fraction of their capacity, leaving the newly commissioned Units 7 and 8 to produce the bulk of the country’s locally-generated electricity.
On July 20th, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), another ZESA Holdings subsidiary, reported that the total generation from Hwange Power Station was 979MW, while Kariba contributed 292MW.
In its statement, ZETDC urged customers with solar systems on their premises to contact its Client Service Centre or dial 704 to get more information on the net metering programme. ZETDC said:
<blockquote>
Zimbabwe is facing depressed power generation due to low water levels at Kariba Power Station. 
Customers with solar systems are encouraged to export the excess energy into the grid through Net Metering.
Find out more about Net Metering at your nearest ZETDC Client Service Centre or dial 704.
</blockquote>
Net metering is a policy that allows customers who generate their electricity from solar or other renewable energy sources to feed the excess electricity they generate back into the grid and receive credits on their electricity bills.
Here’s how net metering typically works:
<ul>
<li>The customer installs a renewable energy system, such as solar panels, that is connected to the local utility’s electrical grid.</li>
<li>When the customer’s renewable energy system generates more electricity than the customer is using, the excess electricity is sent back into the utility’s grid. Conversely, when the customer’s electricity needs exceed the amount being generated, the customer draws electricity from the grid.</li>
<li>The utility tracks both the electricity the customer draws from the grid and the excess electricity the customer sends back to the grid. The difference between these two amounts is the customer’s “net” electricity usage, which is what the customer is billed for.</li>
<li>For the excess electricity the customer sends to the grid, the utility provides the customer with a credit on their electricity bill, usually at the full retail rate. These credits can then be used to offset the customer’s electricity costs when they are drawing from the grid.</li>
</ul>
The goal of net metering is to support the growth of distributed renewable energy generation and reduce the strain on the electrical grid by empowering customers to generate their own clean electricity.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Zimbabwe's power company ZESA is asking people with solar panels to share extra energy with the grid. This is because there is not enough electricity in the country due to low water levels at power stations. Customers can get more information about this program called net metering. Net metering allows people with solar panels to give extra electricity to the grid and get credits on their bill. This helps the environment and the electricity grid. It is important to use renewable energy to help with the power crisis.

ZESA Encourages Customers To Embrace Net Metering

Bulawayo residents have expressed outrage over the decision by the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), a ZESA Holdings subsidiary to switch off tower lights in the city.
ZETDC switched off the tower lights as part of the process of migrating its customers from postpaid metering to a prepaid model.
The power utility disconnected the tower lights three weeks ago, leaving some areas in darkness with residents raising security concerns over the development.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/zesa-disconnects-bulawayo-tower-lights/">Chronicle</a>, Bulawayo United Residents Association (BURA) president, Winos Dube, said he has lived in Bulawayo for more than 50 years but it was the first time he experienced the disconnection of tower lights. He said:
<blockquote>
I don’t recall such a thing ever happening. I have lived in this city for more than 50 years but I have never seen such a thing happening.
We are disappointed and shocked to learn that ZESA has disconnected tower lights and street lights.
They play a major role in the city as they are part of security measures. We are already experiencing muggings, burglaries, and break-ins so without the tower lights our lives are being put at risk.
Why would ZESA just disconnect without engaging us the stakeholders?
We learned of this when one of the residents questioned a councillor on why the council was not fixing faulty tower lights, which were not functional for some time.
So, the councillor responded by saying the tower lights were not faulty but had been disconnected by the power utility.
This is strange and disappointing behaviour and we will be making follow-ups with the responsible authorities.
</blockquote>
A security expert Wilson Sibanda who runs, Saf-Custodia Security Services, said the switching off of tower lights was a cause for concern. He said:
<blockquote>
I don’t recall such a thing ever happening. I have lived in this city for more than 50 years but I have never seen such a thing happening. We are disappointed and shocked to learn that ZESA has disconnected tower lights and street lights.
They play a major role in the city as they are part of security measures. We are already experiencing muggings, burglaries, and break-ins so without the tower lights our lives are being put at risk. Why would ZESA just disconnect without engaging us the stakeholders?
We learned of this when one of the residents questioned a councillor on why the council was not fixing faulty tower lights, which were not functional for some time.
So, the councillor responded by saying the tower lights were not faulty but had been disconnected by the power utility.
This is strange and disappointing behaviour and we will be making follow-ups with the responsible authorities.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Outrage In Bulawayo As ZESA Switches Off Tower Lights

The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) has forked out ZiG132 889, which is about US$10 000, to a 21-year-old man, as compensation for damages, after he was electrocuted 2 years ago and sustained severe electrical burns owing to gross negligence by the State-run power utility.
According to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), Dumisani Chikosi, who resides in Tonhodzai village in Chiadzwa in Manicaland Province, was electrocuted by some electricity cables that were hanging close to the ground in January 2022 while walking home in the company of four other people.
As a result of the electrocution, Chikosi suffered severe burns all over his body and permanent and irreversible injuries.
Chikosi, who was a teenager at the time that he was electrocuted, went on to spend 80 days at Murambi Garden Clinic in Mutare, where he received treatment. Added ZLHR:
<blockquote>
While in hospital, ZESA Holdings through its subsidiary, Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), paid for his medical expenses although it was not forthcoming with respect to paying him compensation for the damages, he suffered.
This then compelled Chikosi to engage Peggy Tavagadza and Tatenda Sigauke of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights who in December 2022 wrote a letter of demand to ZETDC Eastern Region offices claiming US$20 000 in damages.
In their letter to ZETDC, Tavagadza and Sigauke told the electricity generating company that it was liable for the unfortunate accident, which was caused by negligence on the part of its employees, who neglectfully failed to secure electrical cables in a residential area, thereby endangering people.
</blockquote>
The human rights lawyers said in response to the letter, Cell Insurance, who are ZETDC’s insurers offered a settlement of US$10 000, which Chikosi accepted.
However, ZETDC vacillated and failed to honour its obligations in respect of the offer of settlement, which it had made. Said ZLHR:
<blockquote>
This prompted Tavagadza and Sigauke to file a summons at Mutare Magistrates Court on 5 April 2024 seeking an order to enforce payment from ZETDC.
While the matter was yet to be set down for hearing in court, ZETDC immediately made a payment amounting to ZiG132 889, which translates to about US$10 000 to Chikosi, as compensation for the damages, which he suffered from the electrocution. Resultantly, Chikosi withdrew the summons after ZETDC paid him compensation.
ZLHR intervened in assisting the minor child as part of its anti-impunity strategies to foster accountability at the country’s supplier of electricity and to deter and discourage acts of human rights violations by state-run institutions.
Over the years, ZLHR has intervened in similar cases of ZESA Holdings’ negligence by suing and obtaining orders for payment of damages on behalf of several victims.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZESA Pays US$10 000 In Damages To Man Electrocuted By Hanging Electricity Cables

The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) says its prepaid electricity vending system is temporarily offline.
In a public notice, ZETDC said this downtime is necessary to facilitate the transition from the existing Zimbabwean dollar (ZWL) to the newly introduced currency, ZiG. ZETDC said:
<blockquote>
The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) would like to advise its valued clients that the prepaid electricity vending system is temporarily down to allow for the transition from ZWL to the new currency (ZiG), following the announcement of the Monetary Policy Statement.
We would like to appeal to our valued clients to bear with us during this transition period. We will update once normal service has been restored.
</blockquote>
The shift to ZiG aims to align the country’s financial system with the evolving economic landscape. As Zimbabwe adapts to this new currency, adjustments are being made across various sectors, including banks and mobile money platforms.
On Friday, 05 April 2024, Zimbabwean authorities announced they were replacing the Zimbabwe dollar with a new unit called the ZiG backed by a basket of foreign currency and gold.
Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor John Mushayavanhu told a press conference in Harare that all Zimdollar prices in the shops must now be converted to the new ZiG.
Mobile operators, such as money transfer services, have until Monday to shift their platforms to the new ZiG. All Zimdollar balances will now be converted to this new currency.
ZiG will be launched on April 8 at an introductory level of 13.56 per dollar and a new interest rate set at 20%.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZESA's Prepaid Electricity Vending System Temporarily Down

ZESA Holdings has issued a grave warning regarding mining activities near the Marvel Substation in Bulawayo.
The substation, critical for distributing electricity to the city, the country, and parts of the southern African region, faces the risk of collapse due to these mining operations.
The potential destruction of electrical equipment could have far-reaching consequences.
The Marvel Substation plays a pivotal role in supplying power to essential facilities, serving approximately two million people across Bulawayo, Matabeleland South, and North provinces. Its significance extends beyond the city, impacting a vast population in the region.
Vital infrastructure, including Ncema Water Works (which provides water to Bulawayo), Turk Mine, How Mine, Fernhill Water Works, and the entire City of Bulawayo, depends on the reliable functioning of the Marvel Substation.
<a href="https://cite.org.zw/zesa-warns-of-mining-threat-to-critical-substation/">CITE</a> reported sources as saying the mining is being conducted by a group with “political connections” who are disregarding ZESA’s warnings about the dangers of mining near the substation. Said a source:
<blockquote>
Marvel Substation connects all power stations in Bulawayo and surrounding areas. It is linked to other regions of the country and the whole of South Africa via the Insukamini Substation.
</blockquote>
Blasting from the mining activities poses a significant risk to the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company’s (ZETDC) operations and substation infrastructure. Added the source:
<blockquote>
These mining explosions threaten the infrastructure and could disrupt the electricity supply not only in Bulawayo but also across Zimbabwe and the region.
Those mining at the location have been warned of the potential harm, yet they continue their activities.
</blockquote>
ZESA insiders also expressed concern about the risk of electrocution for substation staff if the infrastructure is damaged by voltage interference.
ZETDC’s Engineering Manager, Proud Mundenda, referred inquiries to ZESA Holdings’ Stakeholder Relations Communication and Welfare George Manyaya.
Manyaya then directed CITE’s queries to ZETDC’s acting public relations officer, Alaina Suliwa, who reportedly requested written questions.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Mining Activities Threaten Critical ZESA Substation

Power utility ZESA Holdings says the national grid experienced a system disturbance on Wednesday morning which resulted in the loss of generation at the Hwange Power Station.
In a statement issued around midday today, ZESA said the system disturbance has resulted in increased load shedding across the country. ZESA said:
<blockquote>
ZESA Holdings would like to inform its valued customers that the national grid experienced a system disturbance this morning at 0938 hours, resulting in the loss of generation at the Hwange Power Station.
This has resulted in increased load curtailment across the country. Our engineers are working flat out to ensure the restoration of service in the shortest possible time.
</blockquote>
Earlier on Wednesday, ZESA Holdings’ power generating unity, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), said that Hwange was generating 774MW, Kariba was producing 300MW, and IPPs were generating 31MW.
This means locally generated power is currently less than 400MW against a peak demand of 2 200MW.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

"System Disturbance" Knocks Off Hwange Power Station

The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) has pegged the electricity tariffs in United States dollars.
In a notice to customers, ZETDC said the tariff is payable at the prevailing interbank rate on the date of the purchase. Reads the notice:
<blockquote>
ZETDC would like to advise its valued clients of the domestic prepaid cost guide that applies to the first purchase of each month.
The tariff is pegged in US$ and is payable at the prevailing interbank rate on the date of the purchase.
Clients can use the following cost guide based on ZERA approved tariff of 1 December 2023. The unit cost is inclusive of the 6% REA Levy.
50.00 Units (kWh) – US$4.24
100.00 Units (kWh) – US$9.01
200.00 Units (kWh) – US$25.97
250.00 Units (kWh) – US$38.16
300.00 Units (kWh) – US$50.35
350.00 Units (kWh) – US$63.60
400.00 Units (kWh) – US$76.85
500.00 Units (kWh) – US$104.41
600.00 Units (kWh) – US$131.97
700.00 Units (kWh) – US$159.53
800.00 Units (kWh) – US$187.09
900.00 Units (kWh) – US$214.65
1000.00 Units (kWh) – US$242.21
Units costs (exclusive of the 6% REAL levy) are as follows:
0-50 kWh cost US$0.08/kWh
51-100 kWh cost US$0.09/kWh
101-200 kWh cost US$0.16/kWh
201-300 kWh cost US$0.23/kWh
301-400 kWh cost US$0.25/kWh
Above 400kWh cost US$0.26/kWh
This notice serves as a cost guide and clients are advised to be guided accordingly.
<img alt="May be an image of text" decoding="async" src="https://scontent-cpt1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/430829268_435552502142982_1828765724059454890_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&amp;ccb=1-7&amp;_nc_sid=dd5e9f&amp;_nc_ohc=HbUEVPQraKgAX9pjKkK&amp;_nc_ht=scontent-cpt1-1.xx&amp;oh=00_AfAy6z_MEQilkPNcDNwP4g8nCr681ZfabFaxsSnZ0qjrnw&amp;oe=65EAB93E"/>
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZESA Pegs Electricity Tariffs In US Dollars

The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), a subsidiary of ZESA Holdings, has announced electricity tariffs effective 29 February 2024.
ZETDC said consumers will get the following on their first purchase (domestic tariff):
50 Units / kWh – $ 64,000.00
100 Units / kWh – $136,000.00
150 Units / kWh – $263,000.00
200 Units / kWh – $ 390,000.00
250 Units / kWh – $572,000.00
300 Units / kWh – $753,000.00
350 Units / kWh – $950,000.00
400 Units / kWh – $1,148,000.00
450 Units / kWh – $1,355,000.00
500 Units / kWh – $1,560,000.00
600 Units / kWh – $1,970,000.00
700 Units / kWh – $2,380,000.00
800 Units / kWh – $2,790,000.00
900 Units / kWh – $3,203,000.00
1000 Units / kWh – $3,615,000.00
<img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-271817 size-full" decoding="async" height="418" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 590px) 100vw, 590px" src="https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ZETDC.jpg" srcset="https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ZETDC.jpg 590w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ZETDC-300x213.jpg 300w" width="590"/>
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ZESA Electricity Tariffs Effective 29 February 2024

Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) says its clients should upgrade the pre-paid metres by 24 November 2024 because the new system will not accept tokens beyond that date.
Below are the FOUR steps to follow to upgrade one’s meter, according to a notice by ZETDC:
<blockquote>
Make sure you have topped up all tokens purchased before the upgrade. ZETDC will not be liable for old tokens that were not recharged before the upgrade.
STEP 1: Purchase electricity – You will get three sets of 20-digit tokens when you purchase electricity. The upgrade tokens are generated when you purchase electricity and are not paid for.
STEP 2: Enter the first set of 20-digit tokens – Wait until Confirmation is received before proceeding.
STEP 3: Enter the second set of 20-digit tokens – Wait until Confirmation is received before proceeding.
STEP 4: Enter the third set of 20-digit tokens – Once complete your recharge token (the 3rd token) will be loaded successfully.
</blockquote>
Speaking to <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/zetdc-upgrades-prepaid-meters-system/">The Herald</a> in October 2023, ZETDC acting managing director Abel Gurupira said the upgrade will improve efficiency and the use of electricity. He said:
<blockquote>
It is ideally a situation where I would say the smart meters that we have involve a system that is within the institution and there is a meter which is at the client’s premises.
The system is responsible for generating tokens when one makes a purchase or buys power they are given a token which they then key into the meter and that meter should be able to identify and decrypt that unique token.
This system was developed in 1993 and South Africa was involved. Many other utilities came on board so 1993 is the base year where the generation of these tokens began.
We are coming to a time when the 30 years that were incorporated in this system is expiring and we are saying once we get to the 30 years, the meters will then not be able to identify the token that has been generated by our system and therefore will reject it.
We are coming to a time where we have to reset giving the meter a new lease of life where the algorithms that are within the organisation’s system and those that are within the meter should be able to speak to each other.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Upgrade Your Electricity Prepaid Meter In Just 4 Easy Steps

The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), a subsidiary of ZESA Holdings, has announced electricity tariffs effective 25 January 2024.
The new tariff adjustment comes hard on the heels of another tariff review effected by the power utility on 11 January this year.
It comes as the value of the Zimbabwe dollar continues to depreciate against other currencies in the country’s basket of multi-currencies.
ZETDC said consumers will get the following on their first purchase (domestic tariff):
50 Units / kWh – $ 40,000.00
100 Units / kWh – $86,000.00
150 Units / kWh – $165,000.00
200 Units / kWh – $246,000.00
250 Units / kWh – $360,000.00
300 Units / kWh – $474,000.00
350 Units / kWh – $ 599,000.00
400 Units / kWh – $724,000.00
450 Units / kWh – $ 854,000.00
500 Units / kWh – $983,000.00
600 Units / kWh – $ 1,243,000.00
700 Units / kWh – $ 1,503,000.00
800 Units / kWh – $1,763,000.00
900 Units / kWh – $ 2,023,000.00
1000 Units / kWh – $ 2,281,000.00
<img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-270204 size-full" decoding="async" height="469" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 786px) 100vw, 786px" src="https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ZETDC-1.jpg" srcset="https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ZETDC-1.jpg 786w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ZETDC-1-300x179.jpg 300w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ZETDC-1-768x458.jpg 768w" width="786"/>
The electricity tariffs effective that were effected on 11 January 2024 were as follows:
50 Units / kWh – $35,000.00
100 Units / kWh – $75,000.00
150 Units / kWh – $145,000.00
200 Units / kWh – $215,000.00
250 Units / kWh – $315,000.00
300 Units / kWh – $415,000.00
350 Units / kWh – $525,000.00
400 Units / kWh – $634,000.00
450 Units / kWh – $747,000.00
500 Units / kWh – $861,000.00
600 Units / kWh – $1,088,000.00
700 Units / kWh – $1,315,000.00
800 Units / kWh – $1,542,000.00
900 Units / kWh – $1,769,000.00
1000 Units / kWh – $1,996,000.00
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZESA Electricity Tariffs Effective 25 January 2024

Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) has warned its customers who do not timeously upgrade their electricity prepaid meters that the gadgets will cease functioning later this year.
The current generation of prepaid meters uses software with a built-in date limit of 24 November 2024.
After that date, the meters will no longer recognise new tokens, effectively cutting off electricity to homes and businesses they are installed on.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/upgrade-electricity-meters-in-time">The Sunday Mail</a>, ZETDC acting public relations officer Alaina Suliwa said:
<blockquote>
ZETDC embarked on the prepaid meter upgrade exercise on November 17, 2023, starting with a pilot of a few selected areas across all regions.
The pilot project covered areas under the North district (Harare Region); Mutare district (Eastern Region); Bulawayo East district (Western Region); Gweru district (Southern Region); and Kadoma and Chinhoyi districts (Northern Region).
In total, 85 per cent of the installed meters in these areas were successfully upgraded.
The remaining 15 per cent are non-TID (token identifier)-compliant meters that the utility will change at no cost to the client.
</blockquote>
TID is the system used by prepaid meters to determine the authenticity of a recharge token.
The exercise, Suliwa said, was then rolled out to the rest of the country on 18 December. She said:
<blockquote>
The upgrade is done as part of compliance with the requirements by the STS (Standard Transfer Specification) system for prepaid meters, which states that all power utilities using this system the world over have to do the upgrades by November 24, 2024, to enable their meters to continue accepting tokens.
Any prepaid meter that is not upgraded by this date will not accept tokens. Hence, upgrading ensures uninterrupted recharging service to our valued customers and also comes with enhanced security features for the meter.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, on Friday, ZETDC’s prepaid electricity vending purchase system was temporarily unavailable from all third-party platforms due to a technical fault.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Upgrade Electricity Prepaid Meters - ZETDC

The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), a subsidiary of ZESA Holdings, has announced electricity tariffs effective 11 January 2024.
ZETDC said consumers will get the following on their first purchase (domestic tariff):
50 Units / kWh – $35,000.00
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100 Units / kWh – $75,000.00
150 Units / kWh – $145,000.00
200 Units / kWh – $215,000.00
250 Units / kWh – $315,000.00
300 Units / kWh – $415,000.00
350 Units / kWh – $525,000.00
400 Units / kWh – $634,000.00
450 Units / kWh – $747,000.00
500 Units / kWh – $861,000.00
600 Units / kWh – $1,088,000.00
700 Units / kWh – $1,315,000.00
800 Units / kWh – $1,542,000.00
900 Units / kWh – $1,769,000.00
1000 Units / kWh – $1,996,000.00
<img alt="" class="alignnone wp-image-269538 size-full" decoding="async" height="425" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 606px) 100vw, 606px" src="https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ZETDC.jpg" srcset="https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ZETDC.jpg 606w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ZETDC-300x210.jpg 300w" width="606"/>
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ZESA Announces Electricity Tariffs Effective 11 January 2024

The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) says its prepaid electricity vending purchase system from all third-party platforms is currently unavailable due to a technical glitch.
In a statement issued this Friday, ZETDC also said its customers can buy electricity tokens from any of the ZETDC banking halls across the country. It said:
<blockquote>
ZETDC would like to advise its valued clients of the unavailability of the prepaid electricity vending purchase system from all third-party platforms due to a technical fault.
Our team is working to ensure restoration of service in the shortest possible time. Meanwhile, clients can purchase tokens from any of the ZETDC banking halls.
</blockquote>
ZETDC has apologised to its clients for any inconvenience they may suffer due to the challenge.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Electricity Vending Purchase System Unavailable From Third-party Platforms - ZETDC

The ZESA tokens prepayment system will not be available from 31 December 2023 to 01 January 2024, the Zimbabwe Electricity and Distribution Company (ZETDC) has said.
In a statement, ZETDC said there will be a countrywide annual year-end prepayment vending system maintenance and the token buying platform will not be available from 5 PM on New Year’s Eve to 6 AM the following day. It said:
<blockquote>
The Zimbabwe Electricity and Distribution Company (ZETDC) would like to advise its customers countrywide that the utility is going to be carrying out annual year-end prepayment vending system maintenance from Sunday 31 December 2023 at 1700 hours to Monday 1 January 2024 at 0600 hours. The prepayment system will not be available during this period.
The power utility advises its valued customers to purchase adequate electricity tokens to ensure that they do not run out of credit during the maintenance period.
</blockquote>
In the past, the ZESA purchasing electricity tokens platform has experienced outages on the first week of every month due to congestion as customers prefer to buy tokens during that part of the month.
This means the planned system maintenance by ZEDTC will inconvenience hundreds of thousands if not millions of households, as people buy tokens of high amounts on the first day of the month to take advantage of “cheap” electricity.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZESA Tokens Prepayment System Won't Be Available On 31 December

The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) on Thursday, 14 December gave an update on the loss of power in the eastern suburbs of Harare and eastern parts of the country. It reads:
<blockquote>
Eastern Parts of Harare Update
Power supplies to Borrowdale 33KV, Dorset 33KV, and Part of Greystones 33KV substations have been restored while the following substations remain out as we find alternative ways of feeding them; Pomona 33KV, Highlands Park 33KV, Part of Greystones 33kv, Coleford 33KV, and Ruwa 33KV substations.
The affected areas are as follows:
Glenmore, Chishawasha Hills, Umwinsidale. Luna Park, Spring Heights, Arundel Village Park, Crowhill, Art farm, Defence forces University, Domboshava Road, Philadelphia, Hogerthy Hill, Brookhill, New Pomona, Part of Vainona, Kambanji, Helensvale The Grange, Rolf Valley, Part of Greendale, Chisipite, Gletwin, Mandara, Part of Msasa Industry, Ruwa industry, Damofalls, Fairview, Zimre Park, Chipukutu. Elizabeth Park and the surrounding areas.
Manicaland update
Power supplies to Mutare City have been restored while the following areas remain out. The affected areas are as follows:
Mutare Environs, Mkwasine, Middle Sabi, Rusape, Marondera and Bromley.
Efforts are being made to find alternative backfeeds to supply the affected areas while our teams are working on the fallen tower.
As a safety precaution, we urge our valued customers to treat all circuits as live, as power may be restored without notice.
We further advise customers to keep away from fallen power lines and report them to our 24-hour contact centre on 704.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZETDC Issues An Update On Power Outage In Manicaland, Harare

The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) says it has experienced two faults on the grid which restricted power supply to parts of eastern Harare and Manicaland.
In a statement, ZETDC also warned its customers of the “generally depressed” power generation as the water level at Kariba Dam has dropped to 12% and Hwange Unit 8 is offline for routine maintenance. It said:
<blockquote>
ZESA Holdings would like to advise its valued Customers on two major faults on the transmission grid which occurred on the 12th of December, one on the Zimbabwe Grid and another one on the Mozambique EDM Grid as follows:
FAULT ON ZESA GRID
On 12 December 2023, a transmission tower collapsed at Ingwe Farm, which is on 330kV line between Warren and Dema Substation.
This line is critical for maintaining the stability of the power system. The outage of this critical line led to the loss of power to Dema and Orange Grove Substation, which supply power to Eastern parts of Harare, Manicaland and surrounding areas.
Some Customers have been restored using the Mozambique Songo- Bindura corridor, supplying a total of 220MW.
FAULT ON MOZAMBIQUE EDM GRID
On 13 December, the electricity supply was lost due to a fault on the Mozambique Transmission Grid which connects to Zimbabwe through Bindura.
The fault caused a limitation on the power system and Mozambique’s EDM has limited loading of the line to only 60MW on the affected area.
This has resulted in a substantial number of our Customers being affected pending the restoration of the fault on the ZESA Grid- Warren Dema Line.
Our technical teams are working round the clock to ensure that these faults are rectified at the earliest convenience to enable restoration.
The national grid is generally depressed in terms of generation, largely due to the depressed availability of water at Kariba where we have been restricted to generating a daily average of 300MW instead of the maximum capacity of 1050MW. The water lake level currently stands at 11.84%.
Furthermore, as previously updated, the Hwange Unit 7 returned to service on 30 November after successfully undergoing a routine C- Type maintenance.
Unit 7 and Unit 8 ran concurrently from 1 – 8 December 2023 in preparation for the Unit 8 routine C-Check which commenced on the 8th of December 2023.
Indications so far point to the fact that the plants have been built to world-class standards.
</blockquote>
ZETDC said that it will continue to provide progress updates and the mitigation measures that have been put in place.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZESA Experiences Two Major Faults On Transmission Grid

Energy and Power Development Minister Edgar Moyo has said Hwange Thermal Power Station’s Unit 7 is expected to start feeding power to the grid any time from today after undergoing Class C Maintenance for the past month.
Class C Maintenance statutory procedure that requires the plant to be taken off the grid after running for a defined period.
Following the shutting down of Unit 7, the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), has been implementing load shedding due to reduced power generation.
Responding to questions from journalists at the Dubai Expo Centre where he is attending the 28th Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in the United Arab Emirates, Minister Moyo said Unit 8 is also expected to undergo Class C Maintenance. He said:
Unit 7 was taken out for Class C class maintenance for 30 days and those 30 days elapse today (Thursday) and then the process of bringing it back may last one or two more days from today. So we expect Unit 7 to be back to service very soon within a day or two.
Unit 7 carries 305 MW, which is going to be significant in reducing our load-shedding schedule at the moment but going forward in about a week or so, Unit 8 is also going to be taken out for scheduled maintenance for another 30 days.
It’s general maintenance and comes in after certain periods or hours of service.
But then we have other units that have been serviced and carry over 100MW which is going to come to service.
So the taking out of Unit 8 at this time of the year is very strategic because schools and factories are closing and the electricity demand will be coming down.
So we think the effect of taking out Unit 8 is not going to be very adverse and is going to come back in early January after 30 days and that is going to help catch up with demand after schools and industry would have opened.
Moyo urged Zimbabweans to diversify their power and energy sources at the household level and invest in solar energy and gas as the country builds on its capacity to generate power.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Reduced Load Shedding During School Holidays, Festive Season - Minister

ZESA Holdings is mulling more tariff increases, saying it lost US$3.7 billion over the years because of below-cost tariffs.
The power utility was recently awarded a US$0.002 per kilowatt hour tariff increase by the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA).
ZESA’s power distribution arm, the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission Distribution Company (ZETDC), then increased the tariff from US$0.10 per kilowatt-hour to US$0.12, which is still slightly below the regional average of US$0.1254.
Speaking during the State of the Mining Industry report breakfast seminar held in Bulawayo last week, ZETDC acting managing director Abel Gurupira said the power utility requires US$2.8 billion to revamp Hwange Power Station units 1 to 6. <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/business/article/200019170/more-zesa-tariff-increases-loom">NewsDay</a> quoted Gurupira as saying:
<blockquote>
We are looking at US$2.8 billion that we need for rehabilitation and repowering, maintenance and the construction of Hwange Units 1 to 6. Unfortunately, the country has ceased to be credit-worthy.
Who will want to invest when you cannot recoup? We have lost almost US$3.7 billion because of below-cost tariffs.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe is currently experiencing heightened load shedding as Hwange’s Unit 7 is undergoing its 30 days mandatory maintenance process which would be followed by Unit 8.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

"ZESA Lost US$3.7 Billion Due To Low Tariffs"

Power utility, ZESA Holdings, is pushing for another tariff hike to recoup losses and supply more stable electricity to consumers, reported <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/business/article/200019170/more-zesa-tariff-increases-loom">NewsDay</a>.
Recently, the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) awarded a US$0.02 per kilowatt hour tariff increase to the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission Distribution Company (ZETDC), a subsidiary of ZESA Holdings.
Before the recent tariff increase, ZESA was charging US$0.10 per kilowatt-hour, leaving it operating from a loss-making position.
The average price per kilowatt hour for electricity in the region is US$0.1254, and ZESA is now charging US$0.12.
Speaking during the State of the Mining Industry report breakfast seminar held in Bulawayo last week, ZETDC acting managing director Abel Gurupira said:
<blockquote>
We are a regulated authority even with the tariff that we were awarded, let me say we are not yet there. We are almost 79%.
The tariff has been so suppressed; this leads to difficulties in the recapitalisation of ZESA. We have aged machinery.
We saw it fitting that we structure everything. We have been driving this vehicle since the 1930s or 1940s.
We need a mindset shift to say ZESA is government so everything from the government must be cheap.
This business of the vehicle will collapse then we will realise that what is better is to have the right price with stable electricity or to have erratic delivery of electricity at a cheap price.
</blockquote>
He said there were initiatives by SADC countries to tap into the more than 2 000 megawatts (MW) of power lying idle in Angola due to transmission challenges.
Gurupira added that Zimbabwe will require 2 000MW in the next two to five years.
Currently, the Zimbabwe Power Company, a ZESA subsidiary, is generating just above 1 000MW of power.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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