A Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) substation at Mpilo Central Hospital was broken into last Wednesday, with thieves making off with critical infrastructure. As a result, the hospital has been forced to rely on diesel-powered generators to maintain operations.
This incident is part of an ongoing pattern of vandalism and theft targeting power infrastructure over the past two months, creating further strain on one of Zimbabwe’s largest referral hospitals.
Mpilo Central Hospital’s public relations officer, Noma Mabhena, confirmed the theft and described the rising cases of infrastructure vandalism as a serious concern. The matter has been reported to police officers stationed at the hospital.
Bulawayo’s Minister of Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Judith Ncube, warned that these continued thefts pose a significant threat to patient care.
“This is deeply concerning. I was informed that Mpilo Central Hospital had no electricity for two days due to stolen cables. Such incidents could delay critical procedures, including surgeries, putting lives at risk,” Ncube said.
The hospital is currently operating with 10 backup generators, but the cost of running them is unsustainable.
“These generators use about 300 litres of diesel per generator daily, adding up to 3,000 litres a day, which costs nearly US$4,800 per day,” said Phineas Sithole, Mpilo’s director of operations.
While the hospital has a solar energy system under the Solar for Health initiative, its integration into the main power grid is incomplete, meaning it can only support laboratory services for now.
Mpilo Central Hospital has suffered repeated acts of vandalism. In 2023, thieves damaged power lines, leaving parts of the hospital without electricity for over 48 hours, affecting crucial services like maternity and intensive care.
ZESA estimates that between January and October last year, cable theft and vandalism resulted in losses exceeding US$2 million. Thieves frequently target copper conductors, transformers, and high-voltage pylons, leading to widespread power outages.
Despite laws mandating a minimum 10-year jail sentence for vandalizing ZESA infrastructure, authorities admit that the penalty has failed to deter criminals.
