WASHINGTON —
Harare residents say they are concerned by the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority’s decision to increase load-shedding at a time the country is already reeling under erratic power supplies that are affecting the revival of industries and winter wheat production.
Residents say the timing too is not good with the winter weather beginning to bite and the World Cup tournament set to kick off Thursday.
ZESA on Tuesday published a load-shedding schedule that shows some suburbs in the eastern and western parts of the capital will lose power for up to 16 hours a day, while others will be without power for up to nine hours a day.
The statement says major referral hospitals and water treatment plants will be spared the load-shedding. The power utility is urging consumers to use power sparingly.
Bulawayo Residents Association chairperson, Winos Dube, told Studio 7 it’s not yet clear whether the load shedding will affect other cities outside Harare.
Dube said residents are already struggling under the power utility’s current load-shedding schedule.
Harare Residents Trust director, Precious Shumba, says they have started gathering residents’ views before approaching the power utility over the new load shedding schedule.
Shumba says though in the past ZESA has failed to adhere to its load-shedding schedules, it is important that it finds a lasting solution to the power woes.
"They should come up with a solution in terms of planning how to distribute electricity equally," says Shumba.
Residents say the timing too is not good with the winter weather beginning to bite and the World Cup tournament set to kick off Thursday.
ZESA on Tuesday published a load-shedding schedule that shows some suburbs in the eastern and western parts of the capital will lose power for up to 16 hours a day, while others will be without power for up to nine hours a day.
The statement says major referral hospitals and water treatment plants will be spared the load-shedding. The power utility is urging consumers to use power sparingly.
Bulawayo Residents Association chairperson, Winos Dube, told Studio 7 it’s not yet clear whether the load shedding will affect other cities outside Harare.
Dube said residents are already struggling under the power utility’s current load-shedding schedule.
Harare Residents Trust director, Precious Shumba, says they have started gathering residents’ views before approaching the power utility over the new load shedding schedule.
Shumba says though in the past ZESA has failed to adhere to its load-shedding schedules, it is important that it finds a lasting solution to the power woes.
"They should come up with a solution in terms of planning how to distribute electricity equally," says Shumba.