Zimbabwe dismissed electricity transmission chief Abel Gurupira after a blackout forced President Emmerson Mnangagwa to deliver his annual address under mobile phone lights on Monday, Oct. 28. Energy Minister July Moyo ordered the immediate removal following the power failure that disrupted Parliament and sparked widespread criticism on social media. The outage highlighted persistent electricity shortages affecting millions of citizens across the nation.
The country generates approximately 1,200 megawatts, against daily demand exceeding 2,200 megawatts. Aging coal plants at Hwange and reduced hydroelectric output from the Kariba Dam contribute to supply deficits, forcing daily load shedding that can last up to 18 hours in some regions. Opposition parties condemned the government for failing to maintain reliable power service even for major state functions.
The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company has not announced a replacement for Gurupira. Business groups have warned that frequent outages drain the economy of millions of dollars annually through lost productivity. Government officials plan to expand generation capacity through renewable energy projects and upgrades to existing infrastructure.
The country generates approximately 1,200 megawatts, against daily demand exceeding 2,200 megawatts. Aging coal plants at Hwange and reduced hydroelectric output from the Kariba Dam contribute to supply deficits, forcing daily load shedding that can last up to 18 hours in some regions. Opposition parties condemned the government for failing to maintain reliable power service even for major state functions.
The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company has not announced a replacement for Gurupira. Business groups have warned that frequent outages drain the economy of millions of dollars annually through lost productivity. Government officials plan to expand generation capacity through renewable energy projects and upgrades to existing infrastructure.
