Municipal headquarters in the Zimbabwean capital Harare have been without power for the past five days, reflecting the poor state of basic infrastructures in the country, according to local reports on Thursday.
The power cut has severely curtailed activities at the imposing Town House building in the centre of the city, the state-controlled Herald newspaper said.
”The situation has affected the council in dispensing services to the people,” said council spokesperson Madenyika Magwenjere. ”We cannot receive calls or write letters to our clients,” he added.
Harare’s city council is run by a commission appointed by President Robert Mugabe’s government, following the dismissal of opposition mayor Elias Mudzuri on charges of misconduct two years ago.
Like many other towns and cities across Zimbabwe, Harare and its townships are cluttered with uncollected rubbish, unrepaired potholes and burst pipes. Residents are plagued by frequent water and power cuts.
A spokesperson for the state electricity supply company blamed the blackout at Town House on ”damaged cables and incapacitated transformers,” the paper said.
”The current blackout is also affecting the central business district,” James Maridadi said.
Harare city council has recently been allowed to implement a massive hike in fees for basic services including burials, which now cost 17-million Zimbabwe dollars ($210). Most Zimbabweans earn less than five million Zimbabwean dollars ($62) a
month. – Sapa-DPA