The long-delayed electrification of Tshimbupfe Central in Ward 22 of the Makhado Municipality is leading residents to embark on their intensive plan of boycotting the next local government elections.

According to the chairperson of the civic association of Ha-Mutheiwana, Mr Thomas Mulaudzi, boycotting the local government election will speak louder than voting. Mulaudzi further claimed that although Cllr KD Mauba was nominated as a candidate for ward councilor again by the local branch of the ANC in October last year, villagers at Tshimbupfe Central do not want him as their councilor anymore. He said that, as residents, they are sceptical about the unrealistic promises of electrifying their settlement by the ward councilor and other representatives of the Makhado Municipality. “We were promised electricity long ago and it is like we will die still waiting for it. We strongly believe that we are forgotten by our government because we are also struggling to get water regularly in this village, even if it is raining,” he said. In terms of the Eskom electrification programme, Tshimbupfe Central should have been electrified in June 2002.

During the inauguration of a headman at Tshimbupfe-Thondoni in 2002, the former mayor of the Makhado Municipality promised residents that their households were about to be electrified in June, but that was not realistic either. In February 2004, the ward councilor, Mauba, announced a temporary plan of bringing electricity via solar systems to the settlement, but all this was also fruitless. At that stage, residents told him that they were tired of using candles and primus stoves and chopping down trees for energy, so they want electricity instead of a solar system. Mulaudzi added that, at the ward coucilor's village and its surrounding settlement, there is developments including water and electricity. “We are surprised even to see new extensions in our neighbouring villages get electricity before us. A good example is a new extension at Tshivhulana village, home of the municipal manager of the Makhado Municipality, Faith Muthambi,” he said. Mulaudzi said that the only way to raise their grave concern with the relevant authorities was to boycott the local governement elections until such time that development became realistic at their settlement.

He said that villagers do not want Mauba any more as their ward councilor because he does not honour his promises. In June last year, Mauba make a pledge that he would give a grade 12 learner from Ha-Mutheiwana village R200,00 for outstanding performance results in his or her mid-year examinations. As if that was not enough, he also promised the youth and members of Mutheiwana Youth committee that he would organise a youth summit in August 2005 with other government departments, but none these promises was ever honoured.

When contacted, Mauba declined to comment and referred Mirror to the director of technical services at the Makhado Municipality and Mr Demana, who is the satellite water service manager at the Department of Water Affairs in Vuwani. Demana claimed that, as of now, the supply of water in Tshimbupfe Central is satisfactory as residents are getting water regularly. The director technical services, Mr Masindi Mapholi, claimed that the delay in the electrification of Tshimbupfe stemmed from the fact that the settlement is within an Eskom licensing area.

He claimed that, as villages on top of the 5-year IDP electrification priority list adopted by council in May 27, 2003, are moving, Tshimbupfe Central might have already moved from number 12 to number 6. Eskom's communication practitioner, Mr Thiofhi Ratshitanga, did not share Mapholi's sentiments. He said the fact that the municipality is unable to electrify a settlement which is regarded as an Eskom licensing area is not true. Ratshitanga said that it the responsibility of the municipality to electrify households within its area, while Eskom just comes in as a service delivery agent. “As the municipality, they plan, prioritise and decide which areas are to be electrified first, based on their priority list and in accordance with their integrated development plan,” he said.