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Charity Ruzvidzo Business Reporter—
CLOSE to 100 technicians, who were sub-contracted to install prepaid electricity meters in Bulawayo, have not been paid since December, last year. Limit Link and Media Technics Company were subcontracted to install 9,400 prepaid meters to residential and commercial properties by HT Power and Industrial Engineering Company. Limit Link director, Greenwell Munyawi, told Business Chronicle they were owed $27,646,50 which was supposed to be paid after completion of the task in December 2013.

“Last year, ZETDC awarded ZTE, a Chinese company, a tender to install prepaid meters in Bulawayo. In turn, ZTE subcontracted HT Power, which also subcontracted Limit link and Media Technics,” he said.

“We started installing commercial and residential meters on October 26, last year and finished in December. HT Power owes us $27,646,50 for our labour.”
Munyawi said HT Power had failed to pay them their money and engagement efforts were proving to be fruitless.

“We’ve engaged HT Power to pay us our money, but they tell us that they’ve no money because ZTE has also not given them any money. We can’t directly ask ZTE, as they didn’t subcontract us,” he said.

Guy Muzanargwo, Media Technics director, said 100 technicians had been employed to install the meters.
“We employed about 100 technicians to assist in the installation of prepaid meters. Some of them were from outside Bulawayo. These people are still waiting for their money and are threatening us every day,” he said.

HT Power main contractor, Trust Chifamba acknowledged the development and shifted the blame to ZTE.
“Indeed, we subcontracted Limit Link and Media Technics to install prepaid meters in Bulawayo. We haven’t given them any money because ZTE has also not given us anything.
“ZTE claims ZETDC hasn’t given them any money for the installations,” he said.

Muzanargwo claimed other companies who were subcontracted to install meters had been paid.
“The installation of the prepaid meters was a national programme. Other companies got their money, but Matabeleland companies were left out. It’s almost a year now,” he said adding: “We also have about 4,000 meters left from the installation process, at our offices.”

A ZETDC engineer, identified as Chinembiri, said he was not aware of the Media Technics and Limit Link issue as his company only dealt with ZTE.
“We awarded a tender to ZTE and we don’t deal directly with these subcontracted companies,” he said.

Prepaid meters are viewed as an effective revenue collection and energy saving system.
It is estimated that the country could save more than $120 million worth of energy a year through these meters.
The meters also have the capacity to reduce transmission and distribution losses.