ZESA Blames Lightning, Not Load Shedding, for Parl...

ZESA Blames Lightning, Not Load Shedding, for Parliament Blackout

Zim Now Writer

Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube's delivery of the 2025 national budget speech was abruptly interrupted on Thursday when a sudden power outage plunged Parliament into darkness. The incident occurred as Ncube was wrapping up his presentation, creating chaos in the chamber.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa was swiftly escorted out of the building during the blackout, which lasted several moments before Parliament’s backup generators finally restored power.

Responding to speculation about the cause, ZESA spokesperson George Manyaya dismissed suggestions that the incident was due to load shedding. In an interview with ZimLive, Manyaya attributed the outage to a lightning strike during a storm in the area.

“Parliament is on a dedicated power line that is exempt from load shedding,” Manyaya explained. “The temporary power loss was caused by lightning, not load shedding, as is being claimed on social media. This was an act of nature.”

Zimbabweans, however, are no strangers to power outages, with many experiencing electricity cuts of up to 18 hours daily. The country's power utility, ZESA, is struggling to meet the nation’s growing electricity demand amid worsening energy shortages.

Hydroelectric power production at the Kariba Dam has been significantly reduced due to low water levels, limiting one of Zimbabwe’s key energy sources. Meanwhile, the ageing infrastructure at thermal power stations like Hwange has further compounded the crisis, with frequent breakdowns and maintenance issues affecting reliability.

Recent data from the Zimbabwe Power Company, a subsidiary of ZESA, revealed that the country produced only 1,083 MW of electricity on Wednesday, far short of the estimated 2,000 MW required to meet national demand. The ongoing power challenges continue to disrupt lives and strain the economy.