ZESA says Zimbabwe has gone 304 straight days with no planned load-shedding, yet some homes still lose power for hours. The utility is just 61 days shy of a full-year streak, according to its stakeholder relations officer, Prisca Utete.
But people in Budiriro, Glen View, Highfield, Kuwadzana, and Shamva aren't having a great time with that claim. Locals say their lights keep going out for four to six hours each day, and the issue has dragged on for several days.
Here's the catch. ZESA says the blackouts stem from faulty equipment and routine repair work, not a plan to ration electricity. Utete says that makes them a separate issue from load-shedding, even if the impact on daily life looks much the same.
Of course, that detail won't keep the lights on. ZESA admits the cuts have caused real hassle for families, shops, and vital services. Its crews are working on the faults, though the utility has not given a firm date for full repairs.
As for the power supply, the Zimbabwe Power Company puts total output at about 1,455 megawatts. Hwange Thermal Power Station leads with 994 MW, while Kariba South Hydropower Station adds 415 MW. Private energy firms chip in another 46 MW.
The big question is whether ZESA can keep its official no-rationing streak intact while fixing the faults that still leave some areas in the dark. For those hit by daily cuts, the label on the outage makes little difference.
But people in Budiriro, Glen View, Highfield, Kuwadzana, and Shamva aren't having a great time with that claim. Locals say their lights keep going out for four to six hours each day, and the issue has dragged on for several days.
Here's the catch. ZESA says the blackouts stem from faulty equipment and routine repair work, not a plan to ration electricity. Utete says that makes them a separate issue from load-shedding, even if the impact on daily life looks much the same.
Of course, that detail won't keep the lights on. ZESA admits the cuts have caused real hassle for families, shops, and vital services. Its crews are working on the faults, though the utility has not given a firm date for full repairs.
As for the power supply, the Zimbabwe Power Company puts total output at about 1,455 megawatts. Hwange Thermal Power Station leads with 994 MW, while Kariba South Hydropower Station adds 415 MW. Private energy firms chip in another 46 MW.
The big question is whether ZESA can keep its official no-rationing streak intact while fixing the faults that still leave some areas in the dark. For those hit by daily cuts, the label on the outage makes little difference.
