About 80 families in Bulawayo lost electrical appliances after a freak surge of electricity was pumped into their homes, Harare’s Herald newspaper reported on Monday.
Electrical equipment such as television sets, decoders, heaters, DVD players, radios, stoves and refrigerators were damaged by the power surge on Friday.
Eight blocks of the Mpopoma South Flats and a few houses near the West Commonage police station were affected.
”The voltage was just too high because my stove turned red hot in a few seconds,” said resident Paulos Ncube, whose television, radio and stove were damaged.
”Each household is supposed to receive 250 volts of electricity but I think we were supplied … with as much as 1 000 volts that day.”
Ncube said light bulbs also blew up as a result of the high voltage.
Another resident, Juliet Dumani, said the fault could have been caused by poor workmanship by workers who repaired a faulty substation.
”Those who were outside when the gadgets were blown are saying there were some sparks at the substation. The property was damaged a few seconds after the sparks were seen,” she said.
Officials of the power utility Zesa could not be reached for comment. – Sapa