Beatific Gumbwanda
Chiredzi West ZANU PF Member of Parliament, Farai Musikavanhu was recently caught with hands in the cookie jar by Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) for allegedly by-passing electricity at his 100 ha farm in Mkwasine.
Musikavanhu, former Tongaat Hulett Zimbabwe (THZ) Agriculture Director however denies the allegations as he entirely blames his electrician.
ZETDC Loss Control department’s blitz to investigate those who have been prejudicing the power company in the lowveld through by-passing electricity, recently bumped into the Zanu PF legislator’s farm in Mkwasine where he has been escaping higher electricity bills through by-passing electricity for irrigation purposes.
In an interview with TellZim News Musikavanhu entirely blamed his electrician for the nemesis and said he had settled the matter with the power company.
“I was not aware that the electrician who maintains my system had made an error willingly so I paid the fine and ZESA has since reconnected the power,” said Musikavanhu.
Although the electrician had no benefits for by-passing electricity at his employer’s farm, Musikavanhu had failed to note the inconveniences on payment of ZESA bills.
ZETDC Communication and Marketing Officer Prosper Mutswiri refused to comment for a specific customer which he claimed would be private and confidential but explained that a police report is made once it is discovered that there is a meter by-pass.
“On discovery of a meter by-pass, the case is reported to the police as per Electricity Act Chapter 13:19 section 60A (1). In addition, as per the company’s policies and procedures, the point of supply is disconnected , equipment recovered and an assessment of prejudice and administration costs is done and customer account levied with the charges.
“The point of power supply is reconnected when the customer has settled the administration costs and the prejudice,” said Mutswiri.
According to the act, anyone who uses any electric current, knowing it to have been unlawfully abstracted or diverted, shall be guilty of an offense and liable to a fine not exceeding level fourteen or imprisonment for a period not exceeding five years or both such fine and such imprisonment.
A few years ago, Musikavanhu was once accused of sabotaging Chiredzi Poly Clinic and the community at large after he allegedly ordered state of the art electric beds which had been donated by a UK-based businessman, John Manganye out of the maternity ward and were left in open at the mercy of rains.
After his forced retirement from THZ, Musikavanhu was forced to change ownership of some of his cars after the company threatened to attach some of his property as compensation to the company resources he used at his farm when he was still part of its executive.
