By Tichaona Sibanda
Football fans in some areas of the country are missing out on some of the FIFA world cup matches in Brazil because of power outages.
Last week the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) introduced load shedding and some of the rationing is done during match times, mostly at night.
The utility power company is facing angry and dismayed customers. Our Harare correspondent Simon Muchemwa said ZESA customers have urged the company to suspend power rationing during the period of the tournament to enable the public to watch the matches on television.
Muchemwa explained that fans have pointed out that football is the passion of the nation and the interest of the public should be taken into account when considering power rationing during world cup matches.
He said the tournament takes place every four years and the public should not be deprived of the privilege of watching the matches on television.
‘Power outages are a daily problem in the country but when it takes place before or in the middle of a football match, which just happens to be part of the World Cup, it can be a very harrowing experience for fans.
‘Most fans have now turned to sports bars where they pay a fee to watch a match as owners are using generators to power electricity,’ Muchemwa said.
Meanwhile the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation signal on DStv was de-actived on Thursday at the instructions of FIFA to prevent people from watching the World Cup for free.
However, the national broadcaster has acquired rights to beam all the 64 matches through terrestrial television where viewers would use a normal aerial. Head of production and TV services at the state broadcaster, Clifford Mfiri, said the corporation received correspondence from MultiChoice Zimbabwe that they had been instructed by the world mother body to effect a blanket ban on all free to air channels broadcasting the games.
Mfiri said all the matches will be accessible through terrestrial TV where viewers need a normal aerial and not a satellite dish to receive the ZBC signal. SW Radio Africa
Football fans in some areas of the country are missing out on some of the FIFA world cup matches in Brazil because of power outages.
Last week the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) introduced load shedding and some of the rationing is done during match times, mostly at night.
The utility power company is facing angry and dismayed customers. Our Harare correspondent Simon Muchemwa said ZESA customers have urged the company to suspend power rationing during the period of the tournament to enable the public to watch the matches on television.
Muchemwa explained that fans have pointed out that football is the passion of the nation and the interest of the public should be taken into account when considering power rationing during world cup matches.
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| Power outages: Football fans miss out on World Cup |
‘Power outages are a daily problem in the country but when it takes place before or in the middle of a football match, which just happens to be part of the World Cup, it can be a very harrowing experience for fans.
‘Most fans have now turned to sports bars where they pay a fee to watch a match as owners are using generators to power electricity,’ Muchemwa said.
Meanwhile the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation signal on DStv was de-actived on Thursday at the instructions of FIFA to prevent people from watching the World Cup for free.
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| World Cup in Brazil |
Mfiri said all the matches will be accessible through terrestrial TV where viewers need a normal aerial and not a satellite dish to receive the ZBC signal. SW Radio Africa
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.jpg "Sona Solar Zimbabwe")
