A SURGE in violent muggings has gripped Bulawayo and Chitungwiza as entire neighbourhoods remain in darkness following the disconnection of street lights, with Zesa Holdings blaming local authorities for failing to buy prepaid electricity tokens.
The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), Zesa's distribution arm, confirmed in a statement that the blackouts stem from councils' failure to buy tokens for newly-installed prepaid meters.
The utility revealed that it had engaged municipalities since June last year about the mandatory transition from conventional meters, including written notices in May 2025 warning of imminent installations.
“The current outages result directly from local authorities not purchasing tokens for the prepaid meters we installed,” the statement read.
Meters were initially loaded with starter units, 50 for single-phase and 200 for three-phase connections, councils allegedly neglected subsequent top ups.
ZETDC said it was working on fast-track meter registrations and assisting councils with bulk token purchases.
The utility has also pledged to improve co-ordination by sharing installation schedules in advance.
However, frustrated residents said bureaucratic solutions won't stop the crime wave.
- Over 115 to exhibit at Mine Entra
- Revisiting Majaivana’s last show… ‘We made huge losses’
- Edutainment mix: The nexus of music and cultural identity
- Young entrepreneur dreams big
Keep Reading
"The lights went off two weeks ago and since then it's been a free-for-all for thieves. We need action, not excuses about who should pay for what," said Bulawayo vendor Thabani Sibanda, whose stall was robbed twice in one week.
It was also reported that criminals are exploiting the winter long nights, with some suburbs recording multiple muggings.
“We are living in fear .Just last night three people were robbed on our street,” Nomalanga Ndlovu, a resident of Chitungwiza's Unit L, said.
In Bulawayo's Nketa suburb, community patrols have been introduced to escort women and workers after dark.
National chairperson of the Zimbabwe National Organisation of Associations and Residents Trust, Shalvar Chikomba, blasted both the Chitungwiza and Bulawayo councils for failing residents.
"This bureaucratic paralysis is costing lives daily. Councils must immediately prioritise citizen safety and restore street lighting," said Chikomba.
Meanwhile, community groups are reportedly pooling resources to buy solar lights as stopgap measure while awaiting a permanent solution.
