Rampant cable theft threatens lives at Mpilo Central hospital

Rampant theft and vandalism of electricity cables supplying power to Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo have raised serious concerns, putting patients' lives at risk and placing immense strain on the hospital's operations.

Speaking during the funeral service of the late broadcaster, Ms Zvikomborero Sibanda, in Mpopoma on Monday, Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Judith Ncube expressed her deep distress over the situation. Minister Ncube was informed by hospital authorities last Friday that the institution had been without power for two days due to vandalized cables.

"This situation is incredibly alarming," Minister Ncube said. "I was informed that Mpilo Central Hospital had no electricity for two days due to the stolen cables. Hospital staff warned that critical operations, including surgeries, could be disrupted or delayed, leading to the potential loss of lives."

The frequent power cuts have put immense pressure on the hospital's backup generators, which are now being used as the primary power source. The situation has significantly increased operational costs, particularly with the rising price of diesel.

"We have 10 generators, all meant to serve as backup power sources in emergencies," said Mr. Phineas Sithole, the hospital's Director of Operations. "However, due to the constant power outages, we are now relying on them for our daily operations, which is financially unsustainable. These generators consume about 300 litres of diesel each per day, which adds up to 3,000 litres daily, costing us nearly US$4,800 every day."

Mr. Sithole added that while the hospital also has a solar power system in place as part of the Solar for Health initiative, the full integration of solar power into the hospital's main grid has not yet been completed. The solar system currently only supports the hospital's laboratories.

Minister Ncube pleaded for greater community involvement to curb cable theft, calling on residents to remain vigilant and work with law enforcement. She urged, "Please, Bulawayo omuhle, bantwabethu, let us not engage in destructive acts that endanger lives."

The theft and vandalism of electricity infrastructure is a growing problem in Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) reported over US$2 million in losses from cable theft and vandalism between January and October last year alone. Copper conductors, transformers, and high-voltage pylons have been frequent targets, with criminals causing widespread disruptions to power supply and economic activity.

Despite government measures imposing a minimum jail term of 10 years for cable theft, the crime continues to plague the country. ZESA statistics show that nearly 30 tonnes of copper conductors, worth US$600,000, were stolen, along with 10 tonnes of aluminium conductors valued at over US$100,000. In addition, over 1,500 litres of transformer oil were siphoned, and 136 transformers were vandalized, causing losses exceeding US$840,000.

While the authorities have made efforts to address the problem, with 76 arrests and 24 convictions, the persistence of cable theft and vandalism continues to threaten lives and vital services, including healthcare. The ongoing situation at Mpilo Central Hospital is a stark reminder of the dangers posed by these criminal activities.