MILLICENT HUNGWE
MASVINGO CITY-Hillside residents are set to be in the dark for a longer period than anticipated as the ZESA faults department has said they have no timeline for the lightning damaged transformer’s replacement.
The ZESA Masvingo Faults Department has confirmed that the transformer supplying Ngunguni Crescent in Hillside near Reformed Church of Zimbabwe Church was severely damaged after being struck by lightning two weeks ago.
According to ZESA officials who spoke to The Midweek Watch, the transformer was damaged beyond repair and the matter was reported to superiors who have not provided any answers.
However, they also indicated that there are no transformers in stock, making it impossible to provide residents with a clear timeframe for replacement.
“We have put the issue to the respective offices, but a transformer is not something that is always readily available in stock, for now, we cannot promise any time frame for its replacement,” a ZESA representative said.
Efforts to get a comment from the region’s general manager, Eng. Milton Munodawafa were fruitless as his mobile phone was not being answered. Messages sent to him were also not responded to despite being delivered.
Ward 6 Councillor Wilstaff Sitemere said he will ensure that the fault is addressed as a matter of urgency although he had not been aware of the crisis.
Residents affected by the fault expressed frustration over the uncertainty of getting power anytime soon.
Speaking to The Midweek Watch, one resident said refrigerated food has gone bad resulting in them incurring huge loses in these difficult times where buying in bulk saves money.
“We wish ZESA could come and inform us on what is going to happen, because all our refrigerated foodstuffs have gone bad,” the resident said.
Another resident, who preferred not to be named, expressed concern that the response may be delayed simply because the issue affects only one street.
“It seems as if they will not respond quickly as its only one street affected, but we wish for a quick response,” they said.
For now, Nguninguni Crescent remains without power as residents continue to wait for updates and hope for a speedy resolution.
“It is very unfortunate that a whole parastatal that is funded in advance does not have essential equipment like transformers in stock. This should a thing of the past since we pay for electricity in advance. Why are we paying in advance if the situation is the same as when we used pay after getting the service. Somebody is sleeping on the job and should face the music, we cannot continue like this,” fumed one resident on condition of anonymity for fear of victimization.
