Some residents in Kafue have expressed concern at the manner in which the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation(ZESCO) is arriving at monthly electricity bills..
Scores of residents, who stormed ZANIS offices in Kafue today, complained that they were receiving inflated bills from ZESCO in the name of estimates.
The residents have threatened to hold demonstrations against the company and stop paying the bills if the company does not explain to them why their charges have become abnormally high.
A resident who spoke of behalf of others, Mr Albert Bowa said resident in Kafue Estates were shocked when they received bills based on estimates instead of actual readings when all along they had been receiving bills on fixed accounts.[quote]
He noted that last month residents received bills ranging from K50.000.00 to K70.000 and were now astonished to learn that ZESCO had changed the system without their knowledge and have now received bills ranging from K500.000.00 to K800.000.00 based on estimates.
Mr. Bowa explained that when residents went to ZESCO offices in Kafue Estates to seek an explanation on the situation, all they were told by the accountant was that the directive was from ZESCO Head office and that there was nothing the local office could do.
Mr. Bowa has appealed to ZESCO Head office in Lusaka to meet the residents and explain the situation to them before the residents stop paying the bills.
He described the move as unfair to residents especially that ZESCO has just hiked the electricity tariffs.
Mr. Bowa appealed to government to consider bailing out ZESCO so that the company can be efficient and start operating according to the expectation of its clients..
Mr. Bowa also appealed to the Minister of Energy and Water Development to intervene in the matter before the situation goes out of hands.
He said residents feel this is daylight robbery being exhibited by ZESCO management especially that such issues were done in a Christian nation.
ZANIS
ERB and their rubbish approval. The poor teachers and other civil servants will now regret why they accepted 15% increament.
I can easily attest to the frustartions of the Kafue residents. The increased tariffs have resulted in increased consumption charges as well. Those of us with pripaid can actually see that the changed consumption
Very outrageous! Imagine my salary is K1m, I pay rent K300,000, Electricity K70, 000, Water K32, 000 and struggle juggling around with the remaining K598, 000 on my family’s food, education, health and entertainment, and then the bloody electricty increases to K800, 000 (1000% increase). Machushi aya, and my government just stares.
Who ever is the head of Zesco is a moron. How the world does he / she expect the consumers to pay their inflated bills when they could not even afford to pay before the tarrif increase? What Zesco could have concentrated on was a vigorous campaign to get what is owed to the company rather than increase tarrifs.. In any case government instututions are the ones letting Zesco sink because they do not pay their electricity bills!