Beitbridge businesses decry 6 yrs of power cuts

Businesses operating in the eastern part of Beitbridge's central business district have raised concern over intermittent power cuts, which have become perennial over the past six years.

So bad is the situation that they experience power blackout after every two hours.

In separate interviews last week, the businesses, mostly customs clearing agents, fast food outlets, government offices, Zimpost and a funeral parlour said the situation was appalling and that efforts to engage the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) were fruitless.
Some said they had lost fridges, computers and other electrical appliances due to the power cuts.

"The situation is very stressful and worrying, I have worked at this funeral parlour for six years," said Miss Catherine Kwari a supervisor at the parlour.

"After almost every three hours we experience unsanctioned power cuts and we were losing business. We have a backup generator, but our clients are often hesitant to bring bodies here because of the erratic power supply situation.

"Generally, we handle bodies from the local markets and those in transit form South Africa. At some point we had damaged fridges and stoves.