ZESA Copper Cable Theft Paralyzes Communities as MPs Demand Action in Parliament
n By Delicious Mathuthu n nn n Zimbabwe Parliamentarians are demanding a decisive policy shift by the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) as escalating theft of copper cables and transformer components in the country continues, ham
anostrofy By Delicious Mathuthu
Zimbabwe Parliamentarians are demanding a decisive policy shift by the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) as escalating theft of copper cables and transformer components in the country continues, hampering efforts to maintain reliable electricity supply apart from production shortfalls.
Mkoba South Member of Parliament, Honourable (Hon.) John Kuka, speaking during a question and answer session in Parliament on the 9th of July 2025) questioned the continued use of copper in setting up electricity infrastructure which attracts thieves.
“Why are we still using copper cables, which are attractive to thieves, when aluminium alternatives exist?” He asked.
Hon. Kuka also implored the government to speed up ZESA’s transition to materials less vulnerable to theft.
In response Hon. Dr. Anxious Masuka, the Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, confirmed the utility’s gradual replacement of copper with aluminium conductors.
He also outlined technological interventions, including surveillance and hardened transformers, but conceded that legacy copper lines still pepper national networks.
Supporting Kuka’s challenge, Rushinga Legislator Hon. Tendai Nyabani, questioned the enforcement against illegal dealers sourcing stolen copper.
Home Affairs Minister, Hon. Kazembe Kazembe, also Mazowe West Legislator, said licensing for scrap dealers and stepped-up cooperation between ZESA, TelOne and police is tight.
The debate followed concerns raised by Cowdray Park Legislator, Hon. Arthur Mujeyi, who relayed the anguish of communities forced to self-fund cable replacements after prolonged outages.
Dr. Masuka acknowledged that while ZESA has internal policies to refund such community initiatives, the structural shift to aluminium cabling and surveillance tech remains a top priority in the country.
Recent reports confirm the severity of the crisis in the country where to date, over 6,000 transformers have been reported vandalised across all ZESA regions, which are Northern, Western, Harare, Southern and Eastern, undermining power restoration across urban and rural zones .
Between January and October 2024, ZESA recorded 1,317 theft cases, resulting in losses exceeding US$2.16 million, including 30 tonnes of copper conductors and 136 vandalised transformers.
Since 2019, infrastructure vandalism has reportedly cost ZESA around US$24.4 million, averaging US$4 million annually.
In March 2025, in Bulawayo’s Gwabalanda suburb, residents reported 112 homes plunged into darkness, waiting weeks for ZESA to replace stolen copper cables, a delay linked to inventory shortages at the utility.
Similar scenes are reported across the country, with powerful syndicates coordinating thefts during planned outages.
ZESA’s alternative, aluminium conductors, carry far less resale value and started with pilot replacements in 2022. The scheme has now scaled into a nationwide roll-out.
The aluminium replacement is not a silver bullet however, as transformer oil and pylons still remain lucrative targets for thieves and damages from stolen oil, bolts and nuts continue to erode the utility's infrastructure integrity.
