The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) said that the recent disconnections of public lighting in several municipalities are a direct consequence of the ongoing installation of prepaid electricity meters.
The move is part of a national transition to a prepaid metering system to improve service delivery, increase efficiency, and ensure the sustainable supply of electricity across the country.
In a statement released on Sunday, 01 June 2025, ZETDC said that public street and tower lights in municipalities such as Bulawayo and Chitungwiza have already been fitted with prepaid meters, in keeping with the utility’s wider strategy to migrate all customers, including businesses and institutions, to prepaid electricity.
The initiative, which ZETDC says empowers customers with better control over their electricity usage, is also designed to bolster revenue collection to support maintenance and upgrades to Zimbabwe’s ageing electricity infrastructure.
According to the statement, local authorities were first engaged about the prepaid metering programme in June 2024, and written reminders were issued again in May 2025, ahead of the final phase of installation.
Under this phase, all public lighting points drawing less than 100 Amps are being converted to prepaid.
Once installed, each meter is preloaded with 50 units (for single-phase connections) or 200 units (for three-phase connections) to allow temporary use before full registration.
ZETDC said that documentation for each installation is handed over to municipal officials on-site to facilitate the registration process and eventual purchase of electricity tokens.
However, the company said many of the newly installed meters remain inactive due to delays by councils in registering them and purchasing the necessary tokens. The utility said:
The current disconnections are a direct result of the newly installed prepaid meters requiring the purchase of electricity tokens by the local authorities responsible for these public lighting installations.
ZETDC is deeply committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of the public. We are actively engaging with the Municipalities throughout the country as a matter of urgency.
To address growing concerns over public safety due to inactive street lighting, ZETDC said it is engaging with municipalities as a matter of urgency.
The utility’s immediate priorities include facilitating the registration of newly installed meters, assisting local authorities in acquiring electricity tokens, and sharing installation schedules in advance to allow for better planning by city councils.
Municipalities have been urged to expedite administrative and financial procedures to purchase tokens promptly and avoid further disruption to public services.
ZETDC reiterated its commitment to working collaboratively with councils to restore lighting in affected areas and ensure a reliable electricity supply to all Zimbabweans. ZETDC added:
Their swift action is crucial to alleviating the current public safety concerns. ZETDC remains dedicated to providing reliable power to all our customers and stakeholders.
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