Source: Jail for conventional light bulbs use – Sunday News Feb 5, 2017
Harare Bureau
THE Government has gazetted Statutory Instrument 21 of 2017, which bans use of conventional filament light bulbs.
Anyone who imports or distributes energy inefficient bulbs will face up to a year in jail. The move will save electricity through the use of bulbs which consume 80 percent less power and last six times longer than ordinary filament lamps.
According to the latest Government Gazette, domestic and industrial users are required to use energy saving alternatives such fluorescent lamps (CFL) and light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs. Some of the prohibited inefficient lightning products include those bulbs that do not meet minimum performance standards, fluorescent lamps with a colour rendering index less than 80, and incandescent/filament light bulbs.
The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority says replacing five million incandescent light bulbs with modern lighting alternatives will save the country over 300MW — enough to power Bulawayo.
“Any importer, wholesaler, retailer, consulting engineer and contractor or installer of lightning products that contravenes these regulations shall be guilty of any offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 14 or imprisonment not exceeding one year or both,” reads part of the Gazette.
Zesa spokesperson Mr Fullard Gwasira said of the new regulations, “There is no doubt that we will save electricity.”
COMMENTS
Why doesn’t Zanu just shoot them like they did with the Matabele people?
…”contractor or installer of LIGHTNING products” Have they all gone mad? Or been struck by LIGHTING?
what about those who import and use fuel guzzlers like Mercs, Land cruisers and Land rovers?
Back around 2008-2009 I tried to convince MDC London Forum (which was being held every week back then) that we could provide fluorescent lamps (CFL) as about 14 cents per bulb to Zimbabwean to save energy. I said at the time it would help prevent load shedding and demonstrate concrete solutions to every man issues. I remember being laughed at as some hair brain fool, it was said that the bulbs could poison the people. No, these MDC people at the time saw themselves in the limo-zine lifestyle they were going to be propelled to. It seems funny that these same MDC fools could be put in prison today over an issue that could have demonstrated their foresight.