Lusaka, Zambia – On Thursday, Zambia announced a significant step to address its worsening power crisis by importing electricity from neighboring South Africa and Zimbabwe. The move comes as the country faces an unprecedented drought that has sharply reduced hydropower output, resulting in blackouts of up to 16 hours daily.
Energy Minister Makozo Chikote revealed that ZESCO, Zambia’s state-owned power company, will acquire 218 megawatts of electricity from South Africa’s Eskom and the Zimbabwe Power Company. Chikote indicated that the additional power will be integrated into Zambia’s grid within August.
The crisis has reached a critical point, with ZESCO forced to curtail power supplies to approximately eight hours per day due to severely low water levels in the nation’s dams. Hydropower, which supplies around 80 percent of Zambia’s electricity, has been severely impacted by the drought. By the end of July, ZESCO was only able to meet less than half of the country’s peak electricity demand, resulting in a power deficit of approximately 1,360 megawatts.
In response to the situation, the Zambian government declared a national disaster in February, attributing the drought to climate change and the El Niño weather phenomenon. The drought has been described as the worst on record, with some regions receiving less than 50 percent of their usual annual rainfall, according to the World Food Programme. This has led to substantial crop failures, livestock deaths, and widespread food and water shortages, affecting millions of people.
To alleviate the impact of the blackouts, the government is implementing several measures. Diesel generators are being deployed to hospitals, schools, and other critical facilities to ensure their continued operation. Additionally, there is an emphasis on accelerating private investment in power generation and a new policy to allow tax-free imports of solar power equipment, which is expected to bolster the country’s renewable energy capacity.
Minister Chikote highlighted that the ongoing outages are significantly hampering economic activity, with small businesses being particularly hard hit. The government’s interventions aim to mitigate the adverse effects on daily life and support the broader economy during this challenging period.
In other news – Leeroy Sidambe denies assault claims by Mihlali, and accuses her of attempted stabbing
Leeroy Sidambe has publicly addressed the serious physical assault allegations made against him by his estranged partner, Mihlali Ndamase. The situation gained widespread attention on Sunday when Ndamase shared photos on social media showing visible bruises on her face, which she attributed to Sidambe’s alleged violence.
In a statement released Monday afternoon, Sidambe disputed the claims made by Ndamase and presented his account of the incident. He expressed frustration over what he perceives as a rapid spread of misinformation and a rush to judgment that has tarnished his reputation. Read More
