ZETDC switches off Bulawayo traffic lights

Bulawayo motorists have recently been navigating more dangerous roads after several critical traffic lights in the city were switched off by the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC). This action forms part of ZETDC's enforcement of its prepayment system for electricity, leaving drivers to cope with heightened risks at major intersections.

The Bulawayo City Council, which is responsible for managing the city's traffic lights, must now purchase electricity tokens for these signals to remain operational under the new regulations. Last year, several suburbs experienced similar disruptions when tower lights were switched off during the upgrade to prepaid metering.

Sunday News noted that some of the affected traffic lights include key intersections such as Nketa Drive and Luveve Road, Birkenhead and Plumtree Road, George Avenue and Gwanda Road, and Siyephambili and Nketa Drive.

In response to inquiries, Bulawayo City Council's corporate communications manager, Mrs. Nesisa Mpofu, explained that while ZETDC has been gradually converting traffic and street lights to prepaid meters since last year, the council was not always informed in advance about which traffic lights would be affected.

"Traffic lights are classified as electrical loads and require electricity to function, making their operation subject to standard billing by ZETDC for consumed energy," Mrs. Mpofu said. She added that the council was made aware of the nationwide exercise in 2024 but did not receive detailed schedules for the works, which has delayed prompt registration and payment for electricity tokens.

Mrs. Mpofu revealed that the council has completed the necessary registration procedures for the newly installed prepaid meters at affected locations and is awaiting invoices from ZETDC to enable timely payment and token purchases. She estimated that keeping one set of traffic lights operational costs approximately ZWG 3,000 per month.

The switch from postpaid to prepaid metering has been part of a broader national rollout that ZETDC began in 2012, targeting domestic and small commercial users and gradually expanding to public infrastructure.

Last year, the decision to switch off Bulawayo's tower lights triggered public outcry, with residents criticizing the power utility for a lack of prior notice. The city council also condemned the move, saying the tower lights were disconnected without their knowledge, though ZETDC maintained it had communicated the plans.

In light of these challenges, Bulawayo City Council resolved last year to transition its street lighting system to solar-powered alternatives. This shift was intended not only as an environmentally friendly move but also as a cost-saving measure to reduce reliance on the national grid.

Thanks to this transition, many of the city's streets continue to be illuminated during power outages, providing some relief to residents and motorists amid ongoing electricity supply uncertainties.

However, the recent disruptions to traffic lights underscore the urgent need for coordinated communication between ZETDC and local authorities to ensure public safety on Bulawayo's roads is not compromised.