Opinion / Columnist
ESKOM warning to ZESA worrying
08 May 2017 at 11:47hrs | Views
The People's Democratic Party views the warning to ZESA by South African utility ESKOM is a serious cause of concern. It is an indictment on the ZANUPF leadership who have dismally failed to deal with the power demands of the country.
Blackouts have for long been a problem for the Zimbabwean people, the individuals at the centre of the electricity supply crisis afford alternative super silent generators ,in most cases stay in leafy suburbs where load shedding is just but a news headline.
We have for a long time stated that the government is incapable of reform, we have for a long time advocated for parastatal reform, ZESA as a whole needs serious governance reorganisation.
When the institution adopted the prepaid system the argument was that the citizen is to blame for failure to pay bills. That myth has been exposed by the ESKOM development because now the citizen does not owe, shockingly ZESA remains in arrears with both the South African and Mozambique power utilities.
Mugabe at some point addressed the press at the airport after one of his many foreign trips; he defended the Minister of Energy arguing that the blackouts were a result of the low levels of water at Kariba.
Our concern is that ZANUPF and its extensions never take responsibility for failure; they always shift the blame either to the west, citizens or natural disasters. They forget that failure to respond is a show of weakness on the part of the state.
The need to deal with the power problems in the nation falls squarely into Mugabe's court. At the present moment the crisis deals a blow to any hope of economic growth.
We mention in the Holistic Program for Economic Transformation (HOPE) that the provision of adequate energy is the mainstay of any developmental agenda. Energy is a key driver and enabler for any economy.
Zimbabwe currently has installed capacity of 1 960MegaWatts, and a low baseline demand of 2 200MegaWatts. Without this capacity, Zimbabwe's economic prospects will be stunted.
Instead of tip toing around importing electricity the nation needs lasting solutions. In that regard the PDP suggests the following.
Expansion of generation capacity. Instalment capacity of at least 4 220 Mega Watts by the year 2025
Promotion of alternative green and renewable sources of energy.
Addressing the challenges of aged and absolute energy infrastructure.
Attending to the obligation of rural electrification to ensure that every household in Zimbabwe is electrified by the year 2025.
Attending to transmission challenges.
Establishing a solid, competent regulatory framework.
Institution of equitable demand side management systems.
Promotion of research and development.
Together Another Zimbabwe is Possible
Jacob Mafume
PDP Spokesperson
Blackouts have for long been a problem for the Zimbabwean people, the individuals at the centre of the electricity supply crisis afford alternative super silent generators ,in most cases stay in leafy suburbs where load shedding is just but a news headline.
We have for a long time stated that the government is incapable of reform, we have for a long time advocated for parastatal reform, ZESA as a whole needs serious governance reorganisation.
When the institution adopted the prepaid system the argument was that the citizen is to blame for failure to pay bills. That myth has been exposed by the ESKOM development because now the citizen does not owe, shockingly ZESA remains in arrears with both the South African and Mozambique power utilities.
Mugabe at some point addressed the press at the airport after one of his many foreign trips; he defended the Minister of Energy arguing that the blackouts were a result of the low levels of water at Kariba.
Our concern is that ZANUPF and its extensions never take responsibility for failure; they always shift the blame either to the west, citizens or natural disasters. They forget that failure to respond is a show of weakness on the part of the state.
The need to deal with the power problems in the nation falls squarely into Mugabe's court. At the present moment the crisis deals a blow to any hope of economic growth.
We mention in the Holistic Program for Economic Transformation (HOPE) that the provision of adequate energy is the mainstay of any developmental agenda. Energy is a key driver and enabler for any economy.
Zimbabwe currently has installed capacity of 1 960MegaWatts, and a low baseline demand of 2 200MegaWatts. Without this capacity, Zimbabwe's economic prospects will be stunted.
Instead of tip toing around importing electricity the nation needs lasting solutions. In that regard the PDP suggests the following.
Promotion of alternative green and renewable sources of energy.
Addressing the challenges of aged and absolute energy infrastructure.
Attending to the obligation of rural electrification to ensure that every household in Zimbabwe is electrified by the year 2025.
Attending to transmission challenges.
Establishing a solid, competent regulatory framework.
Institution of equitable demand side management systems.
Promotion of research and development.
Together Another Zimbabwe is Possible
Jacob Mafume
PDP Spokesperson
Source - Jacob Mafume
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