By Costain Shamu
Chiredzi is expected to experience dry and dark days for the following two weeks due to the annual maintenance of canals and recent faults at Hwange.
According to a communication that was released by Tongaat Hulett to the outgrowers after a canal shutdown meeting, the filling up of all dams for domestic use started last Thursday, while the canal shutdown started on
All planting activities have been suspended during this period inorder to preserve storage dams for resumption after shutdown so that the system does not strain in replenishing the empty dams.
The notice further denotes that Agriculture services will coordinate main villages and town water supply as well as the main canal repairs.
This routine maintenance affects the water supply for Chiredzi residents annually during this time of the year.
This has coincidentally clashed with the recent erupted electrical faults at Hwange thermal power station that has left the town experiencing power cuts over the past days.
On Wednesday, ZESA Holdings issued a notice to the general public citing limited power supply in the National Grid due to the technical faults at Hwange and also highlighted the unavailability of normal import levels due to loss of interconnection to Eskom of South Africa.
However, the notice further claims that the interconnection to South Africa has since been restored and recovery of service to optimum levels at Hwange is currently underway.
Consumers are advised to use the available power and water sparingly.
