By A Correspondent- MDC MP for Kambuzuma, Willus Madzimure has lamented the dire consequences of power shortages in the country saying the frequent power cuts was resulting in deaths due to gas leakages.

Madzimure said this during parliament. He said:

The issue of electricity has gone to a situation where it is no longer bearable.  Madam Speaker, we have now experienced deaths being caused by the gas leakages because every house is now depending on gas.  The price of gas is continuously going up.  

The industry is being switched off from 0700 hrs in the morning to 2200 hrs in the evening.  Madam Speaker, this as a result diminishes any chances of economic revival.

Madam Speaker, the biggest tragedy is that there is no good reason being advanced, if it is because we cannot purchase more electricity then let it be known that we cannot.  The issue of the water levels in Kariba – it is known that until our worst we have rains falling in Angola, DRC and Zambia there will not be any in-flows into the lake.  So, with that in mind and it is a fact, can the Hon. Minister, I was actually going to ask for the Vice President to come and address this august House – [HON. MEMBERS: Hear, hear.] – and inform the whole nation whether the Government has completely failed to deal with the issue of electricity.

 Madam Speaker, the Auditor-General’s reports are revealing shocking corruption to the extent that $120 000.00 that is required to pay off our electricity debt can easily be paid off by the Government if the Government could look after the money that flows into Government.  The situation is dire and people are being mugged when going to join shifts at 2200 hrs in the evening because no industry has electricity.  

So Madam Speaker, I ask for a high-powered Ministerial Statement because the Hon. Minister of Energy and Power Development has failed to give an understandable reason as to why we do not have electricity.  It seems he is completely in the dark – he knows nothing about what is happening.  So either he resigns or a high-powered Government representative comes here to explain to the nation.”