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Senior Reporter
Zesa Holdings is increasing the number of vendors selling pre-paid electricity tokens from three to eight next month. The power utility will also introduce scratch cards and enable consumers to buy electricity using mobile phones.CBZ, NetOne and ZB Bank will be joined by Petrotrade, Zimpost, POSB, Agribank and TelOne in selling electricity tokens.

Energy and Power Development Minister Dzikamai Mavhaire told journalists in Harare on Wednesday that, “At the end of the month Zesa should be able to have connected all those new outlets. In addition, there will also be a scratch card method of paying and that will be also available at the end of the month.”

Minister Mavhaire said the pre-paid system would change people’s attitudes towards electricity consumption as they would have to manage their own use.

“This time the gadget is very simple, if you use the money you have paid, nobody is going to come to your area to switch off your lights, the system will automatically at the end of your money switch off and as soon as you pay your bill through the various methods we have put in place,” he said.

He said Zesa Holdings subsidiary PowerTel will be the new billing system’s aggregator.