Hanani - where electricity poles are just for decoration ...

Date: 26 September 2003 By: Elijar Mushiana-NIPA

Earlier this month, Mirror published a picture of the residents of Hanani still using candles. It is true that planted poles and wiring cables are just a decoration in that village for the passer-by.

According to the available documents, a tender for the Hanani electrification project was advertised in 2001, with contract number 58/2001. The site was handed over on March 1, 2002, at the headman of Hanani's kraal, and hundreds of people witnessed the ceremony.

The electrification of that village was scheduled to finish last July, but it is now one and a half years after the deadline, and the area is still without electiricty. Other villages, like Ntsuxi, Mfeba and Thenga, which were designated with Hanani for electrification, will be completed soon, in contrast to Hanani, where no work whatsoever has been done.

There are some neighbouring villages, like Davhana, Sundani, Tshirululuni and Mabidi, who already have the luxury of electricity, but according to information, they were scheduled to get electricity after Hanani.

Since last year, the process has been very slow to complete the stands of Hanani. During the visit of Mirror to that village, it was found that some of the houses have no meter boxes, no wiring cables and no poles have been planted. It was also stated by the residents, that 128 people have already paid connection fees of R150 to the Makhado Municipality, whereas others are still paying that money.

The assistant of the headman, Mr Elias Mulaudzi, confirmed that all people of Hanani are shocked about this delay to complete the job. "We, the ordinary people, want to know why there is a delay in electrifying our village, whereas others have electric lights. We are tired of using candles and lamp," said Mulaudzi. The contractor, Nelson Holeni, said that he had no mandate to talk to the media about his job.

"If you need all the information about this project of electrification, ask the Makhado Municipality ward councillor and civic structure," said Holeni. Nobody at the Makhado Municipality was available for comment about the situation at Hanani Village.

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Elijar Mushiana-NIPA

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