Residents Foot Bill for New Transformer After Harare Blackout

The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission & Distribution Company (ZETDC) has advised residents of Tynwald and Stordford in Harare to purchase a new 315kVA, 11/0.4kV transformer after nearly a month without electricity.

Ward 16 Councillor Denford Ngadziore said around 80 households along Stordford Road, mostly elderly residents, have been living in darkness since a transformer in the area was vandalized and stolen. In a letter to ZETDC dated December 17, 2025, Ngadziore revealed that many residents are pensioners with chronic illnesses who rely on refrigerators to store essential medication.

Given the urgency of the situation, Ngadziore requested that ZETDC allow residents to fund a replacement transformer themselves. ZETDC had earlier explained that a national shortage of transformers means the vandalized unit cannot be replaced quickly, leaving residents without power for an extended period.

In response, ZETDC Acting General Manager for the Harare Region, John Dembaremba, granted permission for the residents to purchase the transformer, subject to certain conditions. Residents can recover their money through deductions when purchasing electricity tokens.

The conditions include that the transformer must be new, not reconditioned, and come with a two-year warranty. The transformer must also be accompanied by the manufacturer's test certificates, detailed drawings, and a maintenance manual. Once installed, ZETDC reserves the right to connect other customers to the network, provided there is capacity to do so.

Residents can proceed to Warren Park Depot to complete the necessary forms and purchase the transformer