Government, ZESA Push to Restore Power After Hwange, Harare Faults

By Charity Chikara

The government, in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA), is working to restore electricity supply following major technical faults at Hwange Power Station and the Harare substation over the weekend, which triggered widespread load shedding.

Zimbabwe has experienced significant power outages in the past week after five units at Hwange Power Station shut down, while a fire at the Highfield substation in Harare caused further disruptions.

Energy and Power Development Minister Honourable July Moyo, accompanied by the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere, toured the Highfield substation in Harare on Monday to assess the extent of the damage.

“We have had separate incidents in Hwange and Harare which affected supply. Five units shut down because of an incident in Hwange and we lost what we normally get from Units 1 to 4 and Unit 6. Then the incident in Harare, we lost it yesterday the unit here after the fire shut the supply, and they have been working hard to restore it,” said Honourable Moyo.

He added: “This evening they are putting back some units to supply immediately. Restoration will be done by Wednesday. To those affected, I assure them that we will do everything to restore everything. What has happened shows the need to invest in our power stations and there is a need to refurbish them.”

Zimbabwe Power Company Acting Managing Director, Engineer Nobert Matarutse, confirmed efforts to stabilize the situation, noting that Kariba Hydro Power Station has increased output.

Meanwhile, the government says the rural electrification programme and the operationalisation of independent power producers remain part of long-term plans to improve energy access and sustainability.