Zimbabwe and Zambia were plunged into darkness last night after a significant disturbance in their national power grids, as confirmed by the respective electricity companies in both countries. The outage, which occurred just after 8pm, left millions without power, highlighting the ongoing electricity challenges facing the region.
The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) posted on X, stating, “We regret to advise our valued customers that the national grid experienced a system disturbance last night resulting in a system blackout. Our engineers reacted and began the restoration process. We are happy to advise that as of this morning, most of the load centres have been picked countrywide. We sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused.”
Zambia’s state-owned utility, Zesco Limited, also communicated the situation to the public. “Zesco Limited informs the nation that the country has experienced a power system disturbance today, 24 November 2024 at 20:15 hours leading to a loss of power supply that has affected the whole country,” read a statement signed by acting managing director Engineer Justin Loongo.
“The Corporation is working diligently to resolve the unplanned outage and power supply restoration is underway. ZESCO will keep the country updated on this unforeseen development. We regret the unplanned loss of supply and seek our customers’ support and patience.”
This outage marks the worst power disruption for Zambia in three years and for Zimbabwe since 2022. The precise cause of the disturbance remains unclear, but both countries have been grappling with severe electricity shortages, exacerbated by a drought that has severely impacted hydroelectric generation.
Former Energy and Power Development Minister Fortune Chasi, who was affectionately nicknamed ‘Chibabest’ during his tenure for his successful efforts to alleviate load-shedding, has expressed his willingness to return to his former role.
In a passionate post on X, Chasi acknowledged the public’s demand for his reinstatement, saying, “I can’t pretend that I am not seeing your ‘demands’ to go back to my former job. I do not take your confidence in me lightly. I encounter it daily and everywhere. As I have said before, serving one’s country is a duty we must all be ready. I am!”
Chasi’s departure from the energy portfolio was met with widespread disappointment after President Emmerson Mnangagwa relieved him of his duties without explanation, appointing Soda Zhemu as his successor. Following Zhemu’s appointment, Zimbabwe quickly began experiencing increased power outages, leading many to speculate about the effectiveness of his leadership in the energy sector.
The situation has continued to deteriorate, with citizens now praying for Chasi’s return to the ministry. Many believe that only he can restore stability to the power supply and alleviate the suffering caused by the ongoing load-shedding crisis. Businesses are particularly affected, with daily operations disrupted and productivity suffering.
As power restoration efforts continue, both ZETDC and Zesco Limited are working to address the immediate blackout. ZPC confirmed that power has been restored in most parts of Zimbabwe, while Zambia is also striving to reinstate supply to its citizens. However, the threat of future outages looms large, leaving both nations vulnerable to further disruptions.
