By Isaac Zulu
Kapiri Mposhi has in the last three days been plunged into crippling ZESCO power outages lasting between 18-24 hours, leading to most business entities failing to operate.
Shoprite Checkers Kapiri Mposhi outlet remained closed on Monday on account of the said power outages that most residents in the area said is inconveniencing.
The gen set could not operate and all workers remained outside, waiting for power to be restored.
“Because of the persistent ZESCO power outages, we could not work on Monday. The gen set could not run and because of that all our tills remained closed, the shop assistants and all workers at Shoprite Checkers remained outside,” one of the workers explained.
And some people operating different business entities said that they have been inconvenienced by the ZESCO power outages.
Some metal fabricators, barbershop and salon operators; among other small scale businesses, resorted to using petro powered gen sets.
“We have suffered huge losses in the past three days that we have been experiencing these power outages. We are disappointed with our power utility ZESCO,” said Humphrey Mutale, one of the metal fabricators in the district. “This is inconveniencing, not only to us, but to our customers as well. To make matters worse, there has been no official communication from ZESCO management.”
Some health and education facilities that depend on ZESCO power to run their water pumps for water supply were equally affected.
A check at Kapiri Mposhi Urban clinic on Wednesday afternoon revealed that the health facility had no water supply while a check at John Paul Secondary School on Tuesday compelled management at the education facility to suspend classes in the afternoon.
Normal power supply was only restored later on Wednesday afternoon.
When reached for a comment, ZESCO spokesperson Henry Kapata said he was on Radio programme in Solwezi and would only be available for an interview after the said radio assignment.
