ZESA Accused of Stealing Electricity Units During Load Shedding

Struggling power utility ZESA has furiously denied allegations that it is stealing its customers’ electricity units. This comes after messages alleging that the power utility was stealing units during load shedding hours went viral on social media.

We publish the full statement from Zesa below in its entirety,

The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company has noted with concern the false, mischevious and misleading messages that are circulating through WhatsApp to the effect that the power utility is “stealing” electricity units from prepaid meters during load-shedding and would like to set the record as follows:

i) When there is no electricity there is no that will be flowing through the customer’s meter. The meter, just like any other electrical appliance requires electricity for it to turn and there is no way the meter will be able to turn in the absence of power.

ii) Just like a motor vehicle’s odometer which only turns when a vehicle is in motion, a prepaid electricity meter can only turn when it is powered by electricity, therefore it boggles the mind how and why ZESA would “steal” electricity units, particularly during load shedding.

iii) ZESA has 663 343 prepaid domestic customers on the national electricity grid and their interests are well protected by sound business ethics and practices which observe the principles of corporate governance in service provision. The utility does not engage in activities which are to the detriment of its customers.

ZETDC advises its customers to disregard these malicious messages with the contempt that they deserve, as they seem to be targeted towards causing alarm and despondency.