National

How long will Zimbabweans endure darkness?

Published

5 hours ago

December 2, 2024

BY FARAI MACHAMIRE

Zimbabweans face at least two more years of power shortages as the government works to stabilize electricity generation and meet demand, the Minister of Energy and Power Development, Edgar Moyo, has revealed.

The country’s daily power generation currently averages 1,232 megawatts (MW) against a demand of 1,735 MW, with imports and load-shedding bridging the shortfall.

Speaking in Parliament (Senate) on Wednesday and quoted on ZimLive, Moyo painted a grim picture of the nation’s energy landscape but assured citizens that ongoing and upcoming projects would eventually close the gap.

“The refurbishment of Hwange Power Station’s Unit 5 will add 160 MW to the national grid by August 2026, helping address the electricity shortfall,” he said. Additionally, Unit 7 at Hwange will undergo maintenance in January 2025 to ensure its long-term efficiency.

Water shortages have further constrained electricity generation at the Kariba Power Station, which produces only 104 MW out of its 1,050 MW capacity due to low water levels.

However, Moyo highlighted a 68.75% increase in water allocation for power generation in 2025, stemming from an anticipated above-normal rainfall season.

“This will significantly increase power availability next year,” he noted.

A recent nationwide blackout on November 24 disrupted the fragile energy system, with power restored after seven hours. The cause of the disturbance is still under investigation.

To mitigate load-shedding, the government plans to rely on Independent Power Producers (IPPs), which currently contribute over 200 MW, and accelerate renewable energy projects like solar farms. Projects such as the Batoka Gorge Hydro Electric Plant, with a potential capacity of 1,200 MW, and the Devils Gorge Hydro Project, expected to generate 600 MW, are also in development.

“The repowering of Hwange units 1 to 6 over the next 48 to 60 months will restore the station’s capacity to 840 MW, significantly stabilizing the power supply,” Moyo said.

On nuclear energy, the minister disclosed that the government is exploring prospects with Russia’s ROSATOM and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Thirty Zimbabwean students are currently training in nuclear physics abroad as part of the initiative.

Despite these efforts, Moyo acknowledged the challenges ahead. “Without significant interventions, the forecast demand of 1,735 MW will continue to outstrip supply, resulting in ongoing load curtailment,” he said.

Zimbabwe’s path to reliable electricity hinges on the successful completion of these projects and the implementation of efficient energy policies. For now, the nation must brace for continued power outages.

The prolonged outages, now extending to 18-hours a day, have taken a toll on households and industries, affecting productivity and increasing operational costs for businesses reliant on backup power. Critics argue that the government’s reliance on imports and promises of future projects have not eased the immediate burden on citizens.

SOURCE: ZIMLIVE

National

Zimbabwe sees 2025 growth rebound after this year’s drought

Published

3 days ago

November 29, 2024

VicFallsLive

BY NYASHA CHINGONO

Zimbabwe’s government expects economic growth to accelerate to 6% in 2025 from 2% this year, helped by improved agricultural output and power generation as the country recovers from a severe drought, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said on Thursday.

Ncube added in a budget speech that the budget deficit was seen at 0.4% of gross domestic product next year versus 1.4% this year.

Like other countries in southern Africa, Zimbabwe’s economy was dealt a blow by an El Nino-induced drought which depressed food production and hydroelectric power supply.

Weaker lithium and platinum prices also weighed on its mining sector.

Ncube told lawmakers in parliament that the agriculture sector was projected to grow 12.8% in 2025 following a 15.0% contraction this year, while mining growth is seen accelerating to 5.6% next year from 2.3% in 2024.

Zimbabwe’s long-running currency problems persisted in 2024 as policymakers dumped the Zimdollar in April and replaced it with the ZiG, or Zimbabwe Gold, that has also slumped since its launch.

Ncube said without elaborating further that the government would next year seek to encourage greater acceptance of the ZiG by a sceptical public, who still use foreign currencies like the dollar for the bulk of local transactions.

SOURCE:REUTERS

National

Teachers’ union slams government over non-payment of salaries

Published

5 days ago

November 27, 2024

VicFallsLive

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

The Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) has expressed outrage over the government’s failure to pay the local currency component of their November salaries and bonuses.

“This omission has caused significant financial hardship and raised serious questions about the fairness, transparency, and integrity of the employer’s commitment to honouring contractual obligations,” said Zimta President, Akuneni Maphosa.

“The ZiG component is a fundamental part of our agreed-upon remuneration package. Its exclusion from the November 2024 payments constitutes a breach of the terms of employment and an erosion of trust between employees and the employer,” Maphosa added.

Zimta demanded immediate payment of the full ZiG component of the November salary and bonus, an official explanation for the lapse, and dialogue to address employee concerns.

“We trust that the employer will take this complaint seriously and address it promptly to restore confidence and ensure that such grievances do not escalate further,” Maphosa said.

The union warned that if the issue remains unresolved within five days, they reserve the right to escalate the matter through appropriate channels, including seeking legal recourse or considering collective action.

“We continue to work tirelessly to serve our nation. In return, we expect and deserve timely and full payment of all components of our remuneration,” Maphosa emphasized.

National

Zimbabwe, Zambia experience nationwide power blackouts at same time

Published

1 week ago

November 25, 2024

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

Zimbabwe and Zambia suffered nationwide blackouts at roughly the same time on Sunday night, believed to be connected to a surge on power lines connecting the two countries to South African power utility, Eskom.

According to ZimLive, the outage happened at 8.15PM in Zambia, and at 8.25PM in Zimbabwe.

Zimbabwe’s state power company ZESA said “the national grid experienced a system disturbance resulting in a nationwide blackout.”

Zambia’s ZESCO, meanwhile, reported a “power system disturbance… leading to loss of power supply that has affected the whole country.”

In an update on Monday, ZESA said its engineers immediately “began the restoration process and we are happy to advise that as of this morning most of the load centres (regional sub stations) have been picked countrywide.“

Power was restored at around 3AM on Monday in most parts of Zimbabwe.

ZimLive understands engineers from ZESA believe the fault emanated from a surge on power lines from South Africa through which Zimbabwe and Zambia import power from Eskom. Zambia, in particular, has ramped up imports as its power deficit is graver than Zimbabwe’s.

People using electronic gadgets reported power going on and off in three spasms before it went out completely.

Zimbabwe and Zambia are both experiencing major power generation shortfalls due to low water levels at Kariba, which has forced ZESA and ZESCO to reduce power generation.

Zimbabweans are enduring power cuts lasting up to 18 hours a day as ageing thermal power stations constantly break down.

SOURCE: ZIMLIVE