By A Correspondent

The government has attributed ongoing power shortages in Zimbabwe to the theft and vandalism of electrical transformers, with Minister of Energy, July Moyo, revealing that around 6,000 transformers have been stolen across the country.

Responding to questions in the National Assembly last week, Moyo stated that the current electricity shortages were primarily caused by these criminal activities.

“The shortage of electricity is a result of vandalism and theft of ZESA transformers,” Moyo claimed.

The statement comes amidst growing frustration from the public and businesses over frequent power outages, which have been affecting daily life and economic activities across the nation.

While Moyo’s explanation offers one potential reason for the ongoing crisis, many critics argue that the government is avoiding deeper, more systemic issues within the power sector.

The theft of transformers has been a long-standing issue in Zimbabwe, with criminal gangs targeting these valuable pieces of infrastructure for resale. However, the high number of stolen transformers—totaling 6,000—has raised concerns about the effectiveness of security measures and the government’s ability to prevent such acts of vandalism.

In his remarks, Moyo did not elaborate on specific measures being taken to address the ongoing issue of transformer theft or to resolve the wider power crisis. As Zimbabweans continue to struggle with unreliable power supply, many are questioning whether the government’s response is adequate or merely an excuse to deflect from more pressing issues in the energy sector.