Residents assault Zesa crew for disconnecting power

THERE was mayhem in Mabutweni at the weekend when residents ran amok and assaulted a Zesa crew that was disconnecting power in the suburb. The scores of angry residents reportedly manhandled the crew and beat them up until they fled to the suburb's police station for protection.

The crew then returned in the company of armed police officers and continued disconnecting power to the houses.

Speaking to Chronicle in separate interviews yesterday, the residents said it took more than an hour for the police to quell the situation.

They said the whole suburb has been plunged into darkness following the massive disconnection exercise.

The residents said chaos started when the Zesa crew had a misunderstanding with one of the families in the suburb.

The residents said they were shocked to see the crew coming back accompanied by riot police.

The residents blasted the power utility for failing to provide adequate service and complained that the disconnections were not justified.

The residents accused Zesa of using estimated meter readings and complained that whenever they visited Zesa offices to inquire about their bills, they did not get satisfactory answers.

The residents also alleged that Zesa officials were soliciting for bribes in order not to disconnect some households.

Bulawayo police spokesperson Inspector Mandlenkosi Moyo said four people have been arrested in connection with the incident.