Residents of the Muhungu neighborhood in the Ibanda commune of Bukavu will face a shortage of electricity for the next four weeks. A shocking announcement from the National Electricity Company (SNEL) was made in a statement on Wednesday, August 16. SNEL Sud-Kivu justifies this outage as maintenance work on the low voltage distribution network of the MT/BT cabins named Edap, Diongo, and Kasongo.
But is this really a valid justification? Why must the residents of Muhungu endure such a long power interruption? Has SNEL taken into account the needs and difficulties of the residents? These questions deserve answers.
According to the statement, the work will begin on Monday, August 21, 2023, in preparation for the installation of prepayment meters (Cash Power). The affected avenues include Muhungu météo, Muhungu Ruzizi, Muhungu Bilala, Muhungu Camp SNEL, Muhungu quartier Latin, Muhungu Bourguignon, and Muhungu cercle Hippique.
SNEL takes advantage of this announcement to ask its customers to settle their outstanding electricity bills in order to obtain a prepayment meter. This raises questions about SNEL’s pricing policy and the treatment of customers who are unable to pay their bills.
However, the electricity company assures that power will be gradually restored as the installation and activation of prepayment meters progress, avenue by avenue. But why is the process so slow? Will the residents of Muhungu have to wait even longer to regain electricity?
The presence of prepayment meters, also known as Cash Power, has been limited to certain neighborhoods in Bukavu for a few years. This raises concerns about equal access to electricity in the region. Why have the most remote neighborhoods not yet benefited from this technology?
It is important to note that in all countries in the Great Lakes sub-region where SNEL provides electricity, it is rare to go a day without power, even in the most remote villages. So why hasn’t Bukavu, such an important city, solved this recurring problem yet?
This situation raises legitimate questions about SNEL’s management and the treatment of Bukavu residents. The residents of Muhungu deserve clear answers and immediate solutions to this prolonged power outage. It is high time for SNEL to take responsibility and act to improve the quality of life for its customers.
Salon Mubasi from Bukavu
