Zesco to install pre-paid meters on traffic and street lights

KITWE City Council has expressed displeasure at the decision by Zesco to install pre-paid meters on traffic and street lights without consulting the local authority.
Kitwe Mayor Chileshe  Bweupe  said it was disappointing that Zesco had gone ahead with its decision to install pre-paid meters  on such facilities without consulting other stakeholders.
Mr Bweupe said during a council meeting that some traffic and street lights where Zesco had installed the pre-paid meters were not in operation since they had not been re-charged.
He said the situation had caused serious traffic congestion on some roads.
“Why should Zesco decide to install pre-paid meters on traffic and street lights without consulting the local authority who are supposed to come up with the plan on who will be recharging the meters?” Mr Bweupe asked.
Town Clerk Bornwell Luanga said the local authority would discuss the matter with Zesco management to see how best it could be addressed.
Mr Luanga wondered why the power utility had only decided to install pre-paid meters on street and traffic lights on the Copperbelt when it was not the case in other areas.
“We wonder why it is only on the Copperbelt Province. We inquired and discovered that it is not the case in Lusaka and Livingstone,” he said.
But Zesco spokesperson Henry Kapata said the company had embarked on a countrywide exercise to install pre-paid meters on streetlights but not on traffic lights.
Mr Kapata said the power firm needed to generate income, and maintain generators and other equipment.