The government has said the current power outages will be addressed when they replace the outlived power plants at Hwange Power Station and other thermal plants like Munyati.
This follows an announcement last Saturday by Zesa Holdings that there will be increased load-shedding due to technical challenges being experienced at Kariba and Hwange power stations, as well as import constraints.
The country has been experiencing power outages lasting more than 12 hours per day.
During the National Assembly question and answer session on Wednesday, Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, in his capacity as leader of the House was grilled over the issue of power outages.
Marondera Central MP Caston Matewu (CCC) said: “There is an electricity crisis in this country. We expect government to inform us legislators, of what is happening and what the government is doing to alleviate the crisis. We need government to tell us and the public what they are doing to avert the crisis, and to explain to us what is happening in the country because it is affecting business and ordinary people.”
Ziyambi said the main cause of the power outages was obsolete equipment at power stations.
“Every Tuesday when there is an issue that arises in terms of energy, our government spokesperson articulates that in Cabinet. At our last Cabinet meeting, she (Information and Publicity minister Monica Mutsvangwa) indeed explained the developments that had happened, which include the expansion of Hwange Power Station. The power plants are now antiquated. We need to replace them. We have gone for long with power plants that have outlived their life spans and we are replacing them.”
Ziyambi also claimed that President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government was industrialising the country, hence more demand for power.
“New industries are coming up and the demand for power has increased and so the demand for power has increased. The power we are now spending in 2022 is far much more than what we used to spend in 2018 as several companies are now operational.”
Members of Parliament feel that Energy minister Zhemu Soda has since July been evasive and has not adequately addressed the issue of the country’s electricity crisis.
Opposition MPs said that former Energy minister, Fortune Chasi must be reinstated.
Meanwhile, ordinary Zimbabweans, especially those living in high-density suburbs have been severely affected by the power cuts as they have not alternative energy sources.
A report by the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (Zimcodd) states that some households in high-density suburbs go for up to 15 hours without el
Despite the excessive power outages, Zesa tarrifs have risen 87,5%, with 50 units increased from $8, 02 to $15 per unit, while 51 to 100 units now cost $30 from $16,08 per unit.
