Zesa plunges Stoneridge into darkness

By Chipo Chabarwa

Power utility company, Zesa, has disconnected illegal electricity connections in Harare’s Stoneridge Park.
Formerly Stoneridge farm, the settlement is situated south of Derbyshire, Waterfalls in Harare and is a middle-income housing settlement.
With the emergence of housing cooperatives, many have found it easy to acquire land to build descent living space(s). However, they have found it hard to regularise sewer and power, which are a necessity.
This, according to residents, is due to a massive backlog, which has resulted in some of them making illegal power connections to their homes and businesses.
A resident who spoke to Nhau on condition of anonymity said they had to devise means of making the connections as they had spent a considerable amount of time living in “darkness”.
“We had to make a plan for electricity as we have been waiting on Zesa to come and connect our homes having met all the necessary requirements but they are citing a backlog, hence we decided to do it our way.”
However, the power utility company had to switch off the illegal homes and small businesses that had made the illegal connections.
The move has left some business owners irked as they had hoped to cash in on the festive season.
Baba Maka, who runs a bar, said the move by Zesa to disconnect the illegal wiring had left him with no choice but to resort to the use of a gas powered freezer.
“I was hoping to realise some profits from my business as people want to buy ice cold drinks. We had made a connection from my neighbour but ZESA got wind of it and they came and disconnected us two weeks ago.
“Because we had ordered stock for the festive season, it will not go to waste. We have resorted to using a gas powered freezer.’’
Small businesses mostly affected are butcheries, barbershops, supermarkets and pubs, and they have resorted to alternative energy solutions.
Those who do not have adequate finances have been forced to temporarily close until the issue is been resolved. The community is banking on Zesa and respective cooperatives for a proper connection as some have made contributions towards the cause.
Those with the financial muscle have invested heavily in solar energy.
On the contrary, some residents applauded the move by Zesa as a welcome development as they feared for their lives and that of their children due to the shoddy wiring. They argued that with the arrival of the rainy season, exposed wiring posed a great risk.
The power utility company could not be reached for comment. Nhau/Indaba