US$24,4m property vandalism threatens Zesa operations

ZESA Holdings is facing an escalating wave of vandalism of its property, which has inflicted severe financial damage, with costs soaring to US$24,4 million.

The spate of vandalism, which peaked with 7 186 recorded cases by June 2024, has not only undermined the utility’s operations, but highlights a broader crisis as Zesa grapples with massive unpaid bills amounting to ZiG5,7 billion.

From 2019 to 2024, the vandalism, which includes theft of copper and aluminium conductors, cables, transformer oil, pylons and transformers, has not only escalated in frequency, but also in the sophistication of the
attacks.

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