Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority through its subsidiary Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) will start penalizing property owners whose structures (buildings and or trees) damage power lines and cause electricity outages.

This was contained in a statement that was released by The Ministry Of Local government’s Provincial Development Coordinator’s office which stated that ZETDC will heftily penalise would-be offenders.

Said the office of the Provincial Development Director in a statement:

PRESS STATEMENT ON RECENT POWER OUTAGES AS A RESULT STRUCTURES DAMAGING POWER LINES

The Office of the Provincial Development Coordinator for Harare Metropolitan Province in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission Distribution company (ZETDC) would like to announce that with immediate effect all residents are to ensure that they trim or cut trees that have overgrown and are now posing as a risk to power lines. ln recent weeks, many trees have fallen on power lines causing unwarranted power outages.

ln particular, Harare Northern Suburbs are the most non-compliant as many homeowners are refusing to cut trees and also refusing ZETDC engineers to gain access to their properties, whilst illegal settlements across all Districts are building structures along power servitudes. ln terms of Section 39 of the Electricity Act, trees, buildings or any structures are not permitted anywhere near the power lines. Trees in particular and any overhanging branches are not permitted within 4,5 meters from any 11- kV line.

To ensure full compliance by all residents, kindly note that from the 16th of February 2O2L, failure to cut trees or building structures which eventually damage power lines will result in the property owner being charged a hefty penalty by ZETDC. The property owner will now be responsible for the full costs of repairs, labour and fuel costs incurred by ZETDC in repairing the power line in the property and any other damages caused to ZETDC infrastructure. All costs shall be allocated to that property’s electricity account as a penalty for negligence.

ln the same vein all local authorities are herein asked to cut trees that have
overgrown and clear all illegal structures in power servitudes as guided bythe Provisions of Development Control, We therefore plead with all Harare Metropolitan Province residents and businesses to cooperate fully with ZETDC to avoid penalties and most importantly inconveniencing others with unwarranted power cuts that can be avoided.

Press Statement 16 February 2021