Zimpapers Logo

Business Reporters
DELAYS in resolving capacity issues at the country’s sole aggregator of pre-paid electricity tokens, Powertel, denied consumers access to power over the two days after its system failed.

The vending system went down on Tuesday with the power utility, Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company battling to restore normal service until mid-morning yesterday.

This comes as pressure is mounting on the Ministry of Energy and Power Development to probe alleged irregularities in Zesa’s tender for pre-paid electricity.

Powertel, appears to be failing to cope with demand for pre-paid tokens, as often times the system is down.

“We were not able to buy the electricity tokens over the weekend because the system was down at most purchase points. We spent the long weekend in darkness,” said a consumer, Vimbai Chibaya.

Powertel was appointed by the ministry as the sole aggregator for ZETDC pre-paid electricity tokens, but the arrangement is failing to adequately address the needs of consumers.

There was chaos over the weekend at most approved purchase points for pre-paid electricity tokens, as desperate consumers could not be served due to a systems failure.

Zesa spokesperson Mr Fullard Gwasira issued a statement apologising to consumers for the pre-paid electricity tokens vending system failure saying this was caused by to a middle-ware system malfunction.

“This was due to a middle-ware system malfunction, which has since been rectified. We would like to assure our customers that the system supplier is working to determine the underlying cause of the malfunction in order to provide a full solution,” said Mr Gwasira

Long queues in ZETDC banking halls and other appointed private vendors are often the order of the day while more inconveniences for users of electricity stem from the fact that purchase of the tokens is restricted to business hours in most cases.

Genuine fears exist that delays in the implementation of an efficient pre-paid electricity vending model could create risks that might jeopardise revenue collection for a company.

Reservations have also been raised about why the Ministry of Energy and Power Development has maintained its stance of a single aggregator for pre-paid electricity tokens.

This comes when Powertel system is clearly failing to cope with customer demands while creating crisis in terms of access to power each time the system goes down.

Analysts have in the past said that some of the impending risks faced by ZETDC include, but are not limited to by-passing electricity meters leading to revenue leakage, black market for tokens and customers continually seeking loopholes to exploit.

In that regard, ZETDC has often been rapped for continuing to install pre-paid meters without implementing corresponding related projects to address the issue.

Other sources said that because experts spent time and resources on solutions and preparations for implementing alternative vending models, frustrating them through the Powertel monopoly could worsen the wave of brain drain in the country.

Bidders participated in tenders to become aggregators alongside Powertel, but tenders were cancelled under unclear circumstances until Powertel was appointed by the Ministry of Energy and Power Development as the sole aggregator.

Evidence exists that there are many technology and business solutions providers who have already invested in effective systems and models for vending of pre-paid electricity tokens in a convenient way that meets customers’ demands.

Sources also argue that capacity exists to have an arrangement involving more than just Powertel Communications as the aggregator for ZETDC’s pre-paid electricity tokens.

However, the Ministry of Energy and Power Development is on record as insisting that Government had made Powertel the sole authorised aggregator for the pre-paid electricity tokens with mostly its institutions allowed to be engaged as vendors.

Contrary to this, private entities such as CBZ Bank, OK Supermarket, TM Supermarket, Zuva Petroleum Service Stations, independent convenience shops and mobile agents are participating in selling ZETDC prepaid electricity tokens.