Institution goes 3 months without electricity Families of deceased told to buy fuel

water shortages since the only pump is not working because of the electricity problem, forcing staff and patients to access untreated water from Shashani River about two kilometres away.

Hospital administrator Mr Taurai Mukwamuri confirmed the issue and said the institution was facing mounting problems.

“It’s true, we haven’t had electricity for the past three months. Copper cables were stolen from Arda Antelope at Maphisa up to Matjilo area. It’s a serious problem for us to run the hospital. You can come down here and see for yourself how dire the situation is. We once went to Zesa Gwanda office and they told us that they don’t have the cables and were still looking for them,” said Mr Mukwamuri.

Matabeleland South provincial medical officer Dr Chipo Chikodzore said she not aware of the power problems at the health institution and promised to investigate.

Efforts to get a comment from ZETDC Gwanda manager Mr Todd Ntombi were fruitless as his mobile phone was unreachable.

A source at the health institution said they were fears that the hospital might close again.

“It’s been three months now without electricity. Life is difficult here for us and the patients. We are relying on a single generator which is overwhelmed by demand for lighting,