Energy and Power Development Minister, July Moyo, said that the power utility, ZESA Holdings, has lost 6,000 transformers countrywide to thieves, making it difficult for the company to effectively deliver on its mandate.

Responding to Murehwa South legislator Noah Mangondo (ZANU PF) during a Question-and-Answer session, Moyo said the country currently doesn’t have the capacity to manufacture enough electricity transformers to replace those that have been stolen. He said:

The main problem we are facing is vandalism of infrastructure, and as we speak, 6,000 transformers were stolen countrywide. We have no capacity locally to produce enough to replace them timeously.

For the wooden poles, the policy we now have is that we replace them with concrete ones which are more durable.

Mangondo had demanded to know the government’s policy on replacing damaged or vandalised electricity transmission infrastructure for learning institutions and health centres, which sometimes go months without power.

According to a recent report, ZESA reported losing over US$2 million in equipment to theft and vandalism between January and October 2024.

The power utility detailed the theft of nearly 30 tonnes of copper conductors worth US$600,000 and 10 tonnes of aluminum conductors valued at US$103,000. 

Additionally, 1,543 litres of transformer oil worth US$7,700 were stolen, and 136 transformers sustained damage costing US$848,558. Vandals also removed bolts and nuts from high-voltage pylons, leading to damages over US$4,300.

In total, ZESA recorded 1,317 incidents of theft and vandalism, resulting in losses of US$2,163,207.

More: NewZimbabwe.com