Maravi

Zesco’s load-shedding irks Chimwemwe residents

Zesco’s load-shedding irks Chimwemwe residents
By Mwila Chansa in Kitwe
Thu 31 Dec. 2009, 04:01 CAT

Residents of Kitwe’s Chimwemwe township have advised Zesco Limited not to take advantage of their customers as no monopoly lasts forever.

According to a petition letter by the residents copied to Zesco’s Kitwe divisional manager and the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) regional office, the residents warned that Zesco risked suffering in the same way that ZAMTEL was today if the electricity sub-sector was opened up.

The residents complained that Zesco was subjecting them to frequent load shedding and wondered if the trend was because the area was considered to be low cost.

"By and large, we wish to remind you that no monopoly of business lasts forever. One day, you may suffer the pain that ZAMTEL is going through, of being subjected to stiff competition," the residents stated.

"How you treat your customers now will definitely have a bearing on the profitability of your organisation at that time."

The residents stated that they always incurred extra costs as a result of the alleged unconcerned and uncaring attitude by Zesco's technical staff, adding that many residents were forced to pay monthly bills for less or no power supplied at all.

"We have to buy candles, paraffin and charcoal in addition to the monthly bills we pay," they stated. "We have to buy food that was not budgeted for because most of the budgeted food has to go bad in fridges because of frequent power outages and prolonged periods of load shedding that is done almost on a daily basis."

They further stated that most of them usually paid free money to MultiChoice for their monthly satellite dish subscriptions because they viewed less or no entertainment at all as a result of the unreliable power supply.
The residents urged Zesco to urgently find a lasting solution to frequent power outages in the area, adding that their lives and property were at risk as darkness was a haven for criminals.

Labels: KITWE, LOAD SHEDDING, ZESCO

posted by MrK @ 10:21 AM