Mt Hampden’s Chitso compound ‘electrified’
ILLEGAL electricity connections have become a thriving business in Mt Hampden at Chitso, Compound 12 settlement, and several other slums in and around the area; thereby posing a danger to residents.
A number of fire outbreaks have been attributed to this practice.
A web of wires runs above metal rooftops and it is not clear how many are buried underground. A casual count gave 15 threads criss-crossing each other like a football net.
From a distance, the electricity cables, which run from one house to the other, appear like washing lines.
A red wire peeps from the ground. Plastic bags poorly seal the joints of these live electricity cables.
Re-purposed telephone wires, balanced on wood and metal poles, protrude from rooftops.
Naked and stripped live wires delicately hang above George Jumbo’s house.
In fact, this illicit business of connecting electricity is the mainstay of a ring of barons whose palms continue to be oiled by the deadly business. It is potentially a ticking time bomb. Residents in the area are risking their lives through by-passing transformers and mainline electrical lines that run to a nearby brick moulding industry.
They are at risk of electrocution. Stories of individuals who have been electrocuted are common place.
Taurai Maungwe (21) has seen people being electrocuted almost on a weekly basis.
He recently made his own narrow escape.
“I was at my friend’s place and had no shoes on. Just after bath my feet were wet and I stepped on a live wire, I could not move,” recounted Maungwe.
He said he felt paralysed for a moment. He has scars from that incident, his right leg was badly hurt and has some difficulties in walking.
Ironically, the same electricity that almost snuffed out his life shines bright in his tin room. He uses thin flexible wires that have been carelessly connected at the bulb.
Maungwe fears for his two siblings who play around their homestead barefooted.
While the dangers are well known, the practice persists.
“There is no way I can have an electric wire passing through my doorstep yet I do not have electricity. I know if I just connect another wire and cover it up with some soil, I will have electricity,” said one resident.
He added that he cannot afford an electricity bill.
The illegal connections are being blamed for the frequent slum fires that destroy properties.
Recently, 25 families were left homeless after their homes were razed by fire, an incident that is suspected to have been caused by electrical faults.
However, it seems for the power brokers, any life lost is “unfortunate”.
Bernard, another resident and a fishmonger, said mothers are up in arms against these connections, but they might be fighting a lost battle.
Though some women are opposed to the illegal connections, their families survive on them as their husbands are behind the practice.
But who could be behind these illegal connections? Residents know the dealers but cannot reveal them because that is where their bread and butter is sourced. But the dealers are said to be moneyed, well connected and revered.
Zesa professed ignorance on the illegal electricity connections in the area.
The power utility’s spokesperson, Mr Fullard Gwasira, said they are not aware of underhand activities in Mt Hampden.
“We are not aware but we do not tolerate any electrical meter by-passing or illegal connections to the national grid. We, however, have our team, which we usually dispatch to areas like these to disconnect and claim our money,” he said.