PANICKY staffers at the Parliament of Zimbabwe have apologized over an electricity outage during the presentation of the 2025 National Budget. This unexpected blackout occurred last Thursday, embarrassing President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was forced to leave the Parliament Building at Mt Hampden as the lights went out. The blackout, which lasted roughly five minutes, ignited fears of potential security threats against the president, especially considering his advanced age of 82.
The electricity woes of the country are not new, with Zimbabwe grappling with its worst power crisis to date, resulting in nationwide load-shedding exceeding 16 hours daily. Nonetheless, Parliament swiftly clarified the cause of the power cut, attributing it to a technical glitch rather than the usual load-shedding narrative. An official statement, signed by Clerk Kennedy Chokuda, revealed the outage stemmed from thunderstorms and high winds impacting the overhead lines of the distribution network.
The statement read, “The Parliament of Zimbabwe sincerely apologises to His Excellency, the President, Dr. E.D. Mnangagwa and the nation at large for the power outage... Information at hand from the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) indicates...” This dismissal of load-shedding as the cause was noteworthy, especially since the bulk of the population endures daily power cuts.
To make matters worse, not only did the main power supply go offline, but the standby generator, meant to kick in during such emergencies, also fell victim to the power surge, losing its memory settings. This glitch meant manual reset was required before it could start supplying power again. Thankfully, power returned within five minutes, preventing what could have escalated to greater embarrassment.
The incident did not go unnoticed. Tendai Ruben Mbofana, reporting for The Zimbabwean, highlighted the far-reaching consequences of such outages, which reflect deep-seated issues rooted in corruption and mismanagement within the country's energy sector. He pointed out how the outage during the budget presentation epitomized the deteriorated state of affairs affecting the entire nation.
Gbofana’s analysis delves deep, questioning why the ZETDC prioritized apologies to the president rather than addressing the daily struggles of ordinary citizens enduring relentless power cuts. He argued, “Whether this was load shedding or an 'act of God,' the incident is symptomatic of the same underlying problem—a grossly dysfunctional power utility operating within a failing system.”
Zimbabwe’s power utility, ZESA, distanced itself from assumptions about load-shedding being the root cause, instead claiming it was due to lightning strikes affecting nearby power equipment. This prompted concerns over why ZESA chose to apologize to Mnangagwa, the sitting president, rather than the multitude of Zimbabweans impacted by the systemic power crisis.
According to The Zimbabwean, the national energy situation has led to businesses losing millions due to the frequent outages, with entire industries accumulating losses as high as $80 million monthly. Small and medium enterprises, which are central to the economy, have been particularly hard hit, struggling to remain operational.
This lengthy power outage during the National Budget presentation exposes the country’s continued reliance on obsolete infrastructure, harking back to the colonial era under Ian Smith. The absence of modern technology, like lightning and surge protectors, exacerbates the energy crisis, highlighting the need for substantial investments and reforms.
Despite the advancements rendundant today, Zimbabwe’s power systems continue to reflect technological backwardness. The materials and infrastructure have remained stagnant, with outdated wooden poles being prone to damage from lightning strikes. Indeed, the repercussions of clinging to antiquated systems are being vividly showcased as the nation faces prolonged blackouts.
Will things change anytime soon? ZESA's Director-General, Julian B. Mandizha, issued comments earlier this year indicating efforts are underway to seek improvements, yet without tangible results being witnessed on the ground. This leads to skepticism about whether the government will genuinely prioritize upgrading the crumbling infrastructure when resources continue to be diverted elsewhere.
With corruption running rampant, millions intended for infrastructure enhancements and equipment upgrades have disappeared, fueling the public’s discontent. Allegedly, funds meant for buying equipment have lined the pockets of individuals connected to the ruling party, enabling lavish lifestyles—while citizens continue to sink progressively lower amid daily challenges of accessing basic electricity.
Mbofana's pointed insights close with the cautioning note: “The Parliament blackout... is merely the latest chapter in the long history of failure and incompetence.” It's evident this recent outage serves as more than just another embarrassment; it reflects the significant need for restoration plans within the energy sector.
Unless the government chooses to act decisively, focusing on accountability and investment, Zimbabweans will remain mired not just figuratively, but literally, as this country endures exacerbation of darkness.