Bulawayo residents,
under the aegis of the Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) on
Friday 30 November 2012 told the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA)
that the residents of Bulawayo and citizens of Zimbabwe at large will not be
able to cope with a hike in electricity tariffs. The residents were speaking at
a meeting held between ZERA representatives and members of BPRA who included
chairpersons from the association’s various committees across the city. ZERA is
holding meetings with stakeholders across the country to get their input
regarding a proposal by the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution
Company (ZETDC), a subsidiary of the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority
(ZESA) to increase tariffs.
Residents
told the ZERA representatives that residents would not be able to pay their
bills if tariffs were increased due to the harsh economic climate in the
country that was making it difficult for them to pay their electricity dues at
the current rates. They argued that if there was a tariff adjustment, it would
have to be downwards as service delivery by ZESA was appalling, and residents
struggling to settle their bills. BPRA also used the meeting to register its
dismay with continued load shedding in the country, and continued disconnection
of residents with outstanding bills. The residents also argued that an increase
in tariffs should be preceded by an improvement in quality of services by ZESA, not the other way
round.
Regards
Information Department
Bulawayo
Progressive Residents Association
Bus. Tel: +263 9 61196
Cell: +263 773 788 183
