ZESA has embarked on a blitz to compel all high-profile
people who owe it money to pay up or face prosecution.
So far, several bigwigs including former and serving
ministers have appeared in court after Energy and Power Development Minister
Fortune Chasi empowered the parastatal to recover the money without fear or
favour.
The power utility is owed $1,2 billion by consumers, some
of whom have not paid a cent in almost a decade.
This comes as ZESA, which is struggling to meet demand due
to low water levels at Lake Kariba and
technical challenges at Hwange Thermal Power Station, has indicated that
it will soon disconnect all consumers who fail to pay or make a payment plan,
ZESA acting chief executive officer Engineer Patrick Chivaura has said.
Acting on the minister’s instructions the power utility
is working on a debt recovery strategy to press consumers to pay their
outstanding bills.
Eng Chivaura told The Herald yesterday: “The power utility
is not going back on its quest to recover its debts from debtors.
“We have been given the mandate by the Government to put
more effort to recover our debts despite one’s position. After failing to
comply with our directive, we will be left with no option but to approach the
courts of the land to recover the debts.”
Eng Chivaura said it was critical for defaulters to pay
their obligations to ensure a steady supply of electricity.
A number of citizens and businesspeople are complaining
about load-shedding yet they do not pay for services rendered.
For instance, the manufacturing sector owes up to $350
million while miners owe $200 million.
Said Eng Chivaura: “In the interest of service provision,
the power utility has stepped up credit control measures in order to recover
the debt owed in sectors such commercial, mining, agriculture and domestic. All
defaulting business are required to make payment plans in order to clear their
bills to avoid the inconvenience of service being withdrawn and litigation.”
Letters of demand have since been sent to debtors. Eng Chivaura said they had put in place a payment plan for
the production sector, especially the manufacturing sector, mining and winter
wheat farmers.
As soon after the winter wheat season is over, ZESA will
disconnect power to all farmers who have not paid. He said Zesa was not a
charity organisation and everyone had to honour their electricity obligations
regardless of status.
“We have this mechanism to ensure that money is collected
and we are now working on a debt strategy to recover that money,” said Eng
Chivaura.
Eng Chivaura said: “We want power to be paid for. A number
of consumers are owing Zesa and if you don’t pay for the services, Zesa will
come to a stage where it will not be able to deliver that service, yet the
source of the problem will be consumers.”
He added that Zesa has to remain viable, financing its
projects and providing the much needed power to drive aspirations of the Vision
2030 while at the same time meeting farmers, industry and general consumers
needs. Herald
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