Wed, 28 Jun 2017 11:01:17 +0000
By Charles Musonda And Prince Chibawah
GOVERNMENT is considering introducing security technology that would enable Zesco monitor activities on all major power transmission lines, to prevent further sabotage to the installations.
Energy Minister David Mabumba told the Daily Nation yesterday that the move would enable the power company monitor activities on the major power transmission lines in the country.
The minister also said power supply has been restored to Kafue District and other areas which were affected after two steel pylons on the 330 KV Kafue West-Lusaka West line were vandalized by unknown people on Saturday.
Meanwhile, an eye witness says the pylon’s collapse terrified people even from long distances because of the explosive noise it created.
He called on patriotic citizens to help security wings identify culprits because any sabotage on public installations such as power lines affected everyone regardless of social status.
“This is a challenging issue given that our transmission lines transcend different geographical areas. Physically policing the transmission lines from generation sources to end users is an enormous task but government is not sitting idle.
“We will have to sit with our colleagues but I wouldn’t want to go into details. In the short term we will need to engage in community policing because the people who are committing these atrocities are found in communities. In the mid and long term we will have to look at technology which will enable us see visual images of activities on the lines through our national control centre,” he said.
Meanwhile a worker at the nearby Mr. Brown’s farm said the 36 metre high pylon’s collapse was terrifying even from a long distance due to the explosive noise it made.
The worker, who chose anonymity, said the six-ton steel tower crumbled around 10:00 hours on Saturday after it was sabotaged in the early hours of the day.
“We were in the fields at the farm when we heard strange sounds from the pylons. When we checked from a distance we saw the cables bobbling on the ground and the next thing we saw was a fire,” she said.
And Zesco said the country survived what was going to be the worst national power blackout.
Chief Engineer – Transmission South, Moses Mubanga said the story could have been different if both pylons were completely vandalized.
Meanwhile, ZESCO Director – Transmission, Webster Musonda confirmed that repairing works had been concluded at the site and that power was restored at 13:08 hours.
Mr Musonda said the works included, among others, replacing one pylon which was extremely damaged.
