Bulawayo -Residents in Bulawayo are sounding the alarm over the growing number of non-functional tower lights across the city’s high-density suburbs, raising concerns that the darkened streets are putting lives and property at risk. The failure of these public lighting systems is not just an inconvenience—it’s becoming a serious security threat as criminal activities surge under the cover of darkness.
According to the Bulawayo United Residents Association (BURA), many suburbs, including Mpopoma, Entumbane, Njube, and Pumula, are now grappling with increased muggings, house break-ins, and thefts due to poorly lit streets. Residents say they feel abandoned, and some fear stepping outside after dusk.
BURA chairman Winos Dube told Southern Eye on Sunday that the problem stems from a major policy shift by the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), which has placed tower lights and other public lighting infrastructure onto the national prepayment electricity system. This means that even lighting meant for public safety now requires prepaid electricity tokens to remain operational.
“We are being told that the tower lights are now on prepayment under ZESA systems,” Dube explained. “But the reality on the ground is that many of these lights are off, and no one is sure who should be paying for the electricity.”
This shift has left many communities in the dark—literally and figuratively. With no clear guidance on who is responsible for topping up tokens for tower lights, residents fear the infrastructure is falling into disuse. Some suspect that neither the city council nor ZETDC is stepping up to handle payments, effectively leaving neighbourhoods vulnerable to crime.
“In the past, this was a council issue, and we assumed our rates covered such services,” said one resident of Njube. “Now we are being left to wonder if we, the residents, are expected to fund public lights too.”
Bulawayo Left in the Dark: Residents Demand Urgent Action on Tower Light Crisis
Dube noted that the current situation is reminiscent of other cases where basic services are quietly shifted to communities. “It’s now like the household system, where a cable is damaged and residents are expected to contribute for repairs,” he said. “If that’s the case, we need to be told, and perhaps we’ll even start juicing those tower lights ourselves.”
But many argue that such a critical service should never fall into the hands of residents. Lighting infrastructure, especially in crime-prone urban areas, plays a vital role in maintaining law and order. The presence of tower lights alone can deter criminal behaviour, while their absence provides a perfect cover for offenders.
“Darkness gives criminals the freedom to operate without fear,” Dube added. “We’ve seen a spike in muggings and thefts in areas where these lights are no longer working. It’s unacceptable.”
The prepayment initiative was introduced by ZETDC to address ballooning debts from government departments and local authorities. While this has helped reduce arrears on paper, critics say it’s had unintended consequences—especially for infrastructure that was never designed to function under prepaid systems.
Now, confusion reigns. Residents don’t know whether to blame ZETDC, the Bulawayo City Council (BCC), or both. In the meantime, crime rates are creeping up, and community trust in public institutions is eroding.
Some locals have taken to social media to highlight the issue, posting photos of long stretches of unlit streets and calling for urgent intervention. Several have questioned the usefulness of paying rates when essential services like lighting are no longer guaranteed.
“These tower lights are not supposed to be city ornaments,” Dube argued. “They are there for a reason—to serve the people, to offer security and improve the quality of life in our communities.”
He urged the Bulawayo City Council to prioritize repairs and coordinate with ZETDC to ensure consistent electricity supply for public lighting infrastructure. “We cannot afford to treat this lightly,” he said. “This is a serious issue affecting residents across the city. The longer we delay, the more people will suffer.”
As the city edges closer to the end-of-year festive season—a period often associated with higher crime rates—residents say time is running out. They are calling for a citywide audit of all non-functional tower lights, a clear communication strategy from authorities, and immediate measures to restore lighting in affected areas.
“This is not just about lights—it’s about people’s lives,” said a Pumula resident in Bulawayo. “When the city goes dark, fear takes over. We need action, not silence.”
Whether authorities heed these calls remains to be seen, but for now, much of Bulawayo remains in the shadows—waiting.
Source- Newsday
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