shloboe boe
Raymond Jaravaza, raymondjaravaza@gmail.com
SEVERAL properties in Bulawayo owned by the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) were plunged into darkness two weeks ago after the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) disconnected power supplies due to outstanding electricity bills owed by the parastatal.
The properties include the NRZ Bulawayo Station, a student accommodation complex, the NRZ mechanical workshops and Raylton Sports Club.
NRZ spokesperson, Mr Andrew Kunambura, confirmed the electricity blackout at the properties.
“The mechanical workshops are still on and were never disconnected. It is the regional offices and the station (main NRZ Bulawayo station) which were affected,” he said.
“NRZ is making all necessary efforts to clear this legacy debt and get the electricity reconnected at all the affected properties,” said Mr Kunambura, without revealing how much the parastatal owes Zesa.
“We are in the process of introducing solar systems on all our stations to ensure we do not get affected like this again.”
Earlier this month small to medium enterprises (SMEs) expressed concern over the disconnection of power supplies at the NRZ workspaces in Bulawayo saying it had crippled their business operations.
The revelation came after Zesa disconnected electricity to the NRZ Southern Region dispassion area and other facilities, which are now being leased to the SMEs due to unpaid debt forcing many players to seek alternatives like generators while those who cannot afford them were losing business due to failure to deliver orders.
“Many SMEs have lost jobs as clients demand their money back. Schools have just opened and this is the only opportunity for SMEs to make money,” Bulawayo Chamber of SMEs vice chair Ms Sithabile Bhebhe told Chronicle.
“Those who can afford are now using generators, those who can’t are looking for places to do their garments and you will find out that the places are occupied as people work on meeting deadlines. Some clients have come to take back their material.”
Ms Bhebhe urged the NRZ to find a solution to the situation saying SME tenants were paying their rentals, with some of the money being paid towards electricity bills.
“If you lose a client, it’s hard to get it back and the electricity issue has affected us, we have lost money and at the end of the month NRZ will need their rentals,” said Ms Bhebhe.
In his response, Mr Kunambura said the company was working on settling the debt.
He said they have an offset arrangement where they will carry the accrual and offset the balance while electricity is being provided to the premises.
“Bulawayo, Harare, and Munyathi, all of them are no longer functioning and we are not delivering any product there, and for that reason, there has been an outstanding debt to Zesa,” he said.
