News / Health
'Increase in hospital deaths due to power cuts is shocking'
28 Oct 2015 at 14:33hrs | Views
The People's Democratic Party (PDP) is alarmed by reports that there is an increase of patients dying in government hospitals while undergoing operations in theatres following electricity blackouts with ZESA and the government remaining clueless on how to solve the national crisis.
During its provincial assembly meetings that are being held across the country, the party leadership has heard shocking reports from relatives, friends and neighbours narrating how they have lost their loved ones who were undergoing operations in public hospitals due to power black outs.
Most government hospitals have been left with no capacity to handle complex medical operations due to unreliable power supplies, with some critical institutions going for over 18 continuous hours without electricity.
The reported deaths are coming at a time when the local power industry in particular ZESA, is headed for a total collapse as it has emerged that the government has no capacity to improve electricity generation in the near future. Infact power shortages are expected to worsen.
Despite claims by the government that the current intense power outages will be a thing of the past by 2018 and the country will be able to export electricity, all the power stations in Zimbabwe are now obsolete and only need a miracle to revive them while the lives of millions of people are being put at a great risk.
Constructing a new power station needs a minimum of four years and the envisaged construction by the government is already behind schedule and it will not be able to meet its forecast of 2018.
Most of the power stations in Hwange, Bulawayo, Harare and Kariba are outdated and expensive to operate and maintain.
It is highly regrettable that Zanu PF has not been interested in developing and constructing new power stations since 1980 until the situation has gone out of hand as in the current situation where the lives of hundreds of people in situations that are avoidable.
The PDP believes in the provision of adequate energy as the mainstay of any developmental agenda. Energy is a key driver and enabler for any economy.
In our policy document, HOPE, the PDP envisages a 10 percent growth rate, which requires the installment capacity of at least 4 220 megawatts by the year 2025. Without this capacity, Zimbabwe's economic prospects will be stunted.
Among others issues, HOPE also looks into the promotion of alternative renewable sources of energy, addressing the challenges of aged and absolute energy infrastructure, attending to rural electrification and establishing a solid, competent regulatory framework. We emphasise the modernization of the transmission system which is ancient and ineffective.
Our party's proposed solutions are a practical way of dealing with the crisis; we provide a way out for our people who have watched helplessly as Zanu turns their lives into hell
Earnest Mudavanhu
Secretary for Energy and Power Development
PDP - Another Zimbabwe is possible!!!
During its provincial assembly meetings that are being held across the country, the party leadership has heard shocking reports from relatives, friends and neighbours narrating how they have lost their loved ones who were undergoing operations in public hospitals due to power black outs.
Most government hospitals have been left with no capacity to handle complex medical operations due to unreliable power supplies, with some critical institutions going for over 18 continuous hours without electricity.
The reported deaths are coming at a time when the local power industry in particular ZESA, is headed for a total collapse as it has emerged that the government has no capacity to improve electricity generation in the near future. Infact power shortages are expected to worsen.
Despite claims by the government that the current intense power outages will be a thing of the past by 2018 and the country will be able to export electricity, all the power stations in Zimbabwe are now obsolete and only need a miracle to revive them while the lives of millions of people are being put at a great risk.
Constructing a new power station needs a minimum of four years and the envisaged construction by the government is already behind schedule and it will not be able to meet its forecast of 2018.
Most of the power stations in Hwange, Bulawayo, Harare and Kariba are outdated and expensive to operate and maintain.
The PDP believes in the provision of adequate energy as the mainstay of any developmental agenda. Energy is a key driver and enabler for any economy.
In our policy document, HOPE, the PDP envisages a 10 percent growth rate, which requires the installment capacity of at least 4 220 megawatts by the year 2025. Without this capacity, Zimbabwe's economic prospects will be stunted.
Among others issues, HOPE also looks into the promotion of alternative renewable sources of energy, addressing the challenges of aged and absolute energy infrastructure, attending to rural electrification and establishing a solid, competent regulatory framework. We emphasise the modernization of the transmission system which is ancient and ineffective.
Our party's proposed solutions are a practical way of dealing with the crisis; we provide a way out for our people who have watched helplessly as Zanu turns their lives into hell
Earnest Mudavanhu
Secretary for Energy and Power Development
PDP - Another Zimbabwe is possible!!!
Source - Earnest Mudavanhu Secretary for Energy and Power Development
