Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority subsidiary ZESA Enterprises
(ZENT) plans to install cameras on transformers to curb theft and vandalism, a
top official has said.
Recently, the company announced that it was losing at least
three transformers every night to vandalism and theft.
In an interview, ZENT acting managing director Mr Burutsa
Mandipezano said the initiative is aimed at reducing theft of power
infrastructure across the country, a situation he described as worrisome.
“We want to support Government by ensuring that every
transformer in the country will have a tracking chip that can be tracked if a
transformer is stolen.
“We will also set up hidden cameras that will take pictures
of thieves and people who vandalise transformers because the rate of vandalism
is worrisome,” he said.
Mr Mandipezano said consumers can also help reduce theft
and vandalism of transformers by ring fencing them with spikes.
“It’s not our duty alone to prevent theft of transformers.
Consumers are also encouraged to help by ring fencing the transformers using
spikes so that it becomes difficult for thieves to get in and steal,” he said.
Theft of electricity infrastructure such as copper wires
and transformers remains a huge problem which continues to present challenges
to Zesa.
Last year, Zesa, announced that it has lost transformers
worth about $20 million and hundreds of copper cable rods to theft and
vandalism, which resulted in the power utility setting up a whistle-blower
initiative to reward those who report suspected theft and vandalism of
electricity infrastructure. Herald
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