By A Correspondent

The country’s electricity grid is facing a dire shortage of critical infrastructure, with 6,000 transformers reported as missing, largely due to widespread vandalism. However, the Minister of Energy and Power Development, July Moyo, seems to be deflecting attention away from the real issue — the government’s inability to upgrade and maintain key equipment.

In a session at the National Assembly on Tuesday, Moyo responded to questions from Murehwa South legislator Noah Mangondo regarding the government’s strategy to replace transformers, especially in areas critical for schools and health institutions. Many of these areas have been without electricity for months.

In his response, Moyo sought to downplay the crisis, focusing on external factors rather than addressing the government’s failure to adequately invest in or maintain the country’s electrical infrastructure. He said:

“The main problem we are facing is vandalism of infrastructure and as we speak, 6,000 transformers were stolen countrywide. We have no capacity locally to produce enough to replace them timeously.”

While Moyo attempted to frame the shortage as an unavoidable issue caused by criminal activity, many critics argue that the underlying problem is a lack of long-term investment in the country’s energy infrastructure. As local manufacturing capabilities remain limited, the government has been unable to keep up with the rising demand for replacement equipment.

Moyo’s statement also emphasized the government’s new policy on wooden electricity poles, stating that:

“For the wooden poles, the policy we now have is that we replace them with concrete ones which are more durable.”

However, this response raised concerns about the government’s priorities. While upgrading poles to concrete may be a positive step, it does little to address the root cause of the ongoing energy crisis — the severe shortage of transformers and the failure to replace them in a timely manner.

It’s clear that Moyo’s answers failed to address the larger issue at hand: a broken system that has seen the country’s electrical infrastructure deteriorate due to neglect, coupled with a lack of strategic planning and funding. The shortage of transformers has left countless schools, hospitals, and households without power for extended periods, leading to frustration among citizens and politicians alike.

Moyo’s attempt to conceal the government’s failure to provide adequate resources for the sector was evident in his unwillingness to fully address the long-term implications of the crisis. The situation is further compounded by the fact that the government has shown little progress in improving the country’s capacity to produce the necessary equipment domestically.

As the nation continues to grapple with chronic power shortages, the call for stronger leadership and accountability in the energy sector grows louder. Without substantial investment in infrastructure and a concerted effort to rebuild and upgrade critical components, the energy crisis in Zimbabwe is likely to persist.