The Managing Director of the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), Abel Gurupira, has been fired with immediate effect following a major power outage that disrupted President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Parliament.
The unprecedented blackout struck midway through the President’s speech, plunging the National Assembly into darkness and forcing Mnangagwa to continue speaking under torchlight. The incident, witnessed by government officials, diplomats, and members of the media, quickly became a source of public embarrassment and widespread criticism acro the country.
According to senior officials within the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, Energy Minister July Moyo ordered Gurupira’s immediate dismissal after being briefed on the incident. He is said to have instructed ZESA Holdings Group Chief Executive Officer Cletus Nyachowe to act “without delay,” emphasizing the need for accountability within the power utility’s leadership.
The Ministry has since launched an internal investigation to determine the exact cause of the outage, amid growing speculation about whether it was due to technical failure, poor planning, or negligence. Preliminary reports suggest that the power disruption may have been avoidable, heightening frustration among government officials and the public alike.
The power cut, which occurred during one of the most important events on the national calendar, has reignited concerns about Zimbabwe’s struggling energy sector. The outage not only disrupted a key address by the Head of State but also symbolized the chronic challenges facing the country’s electricity supply system — from underinvestment and corruption to mismanagement and obsolete infrastructure.
Public reaction on social media has been swift and unforgiving. Many Zimbabweans mocked the blackout as a “perfect metaphor” for what they described as the government’s failure to provide stable and reliable services. Memes and comments flooded online platforms, with some users joking that “even the electricity couldn’t bear the speech.” Others called for deeper reforms at ZESA Holdings, arguing that the firing of a single official would not solve systemic inefficiencies that have crippled power generation and distribution for years.
Analysts say Gurupira’s dismissal reflects the growing pressure on authorities to demonstrate decisive leadership in addressing the country’s energy woes. “This was not just a technical problem; it was a national embarrassment,” said one energy expert. “The government had no choice but to act swiftly to protect its image and reassure the public that such an incident will not happen again.”
The timing of the outage could not have been worse for the administration, which has been battling to convince citizens and investors that Zimbabwe’s energy sector is stabilizing. Power shortages have persisted across the country despite repeated government promises to increase generation capacity through projects such as the Hwange ExpansiSonn and renewable energy investments.
ZETDC Boss Fired, Gurupira After Embarrassing Power Outage During Mnangagwa’s State of the Nation Address
The blackout during the State of the Nation Address has now become a defining moment, laying bare the vulnerabilities of a sector that underpins every aspect of the economy — from industry and mining to health and education.
Government sources said Minister Moyo has ordered a comprehensive review of ZETDC’s operational systems, maintenance schedules, and crisis management protocols. The probe is expected to identify not only the cause of the failure but also any lapses in oversight that allowed such an incident to occur during a high-security event.
In the meantime, the ZETDC board has been tasked with ensuring continuity of operations and restoring public confidence. No replacement for Gurupira has yet been announced, though insiders suggest that an acting Managing Director may be appointed in the coming days to steer the company through the ongoing inquiry.
Energy experts warn that while Gurupira’s removal might offer short-term political relief, it does little to address the underlying problems that have plagued Zimbabwe’s electricity sector for decades. Chronic underfunding, corruption, aging infrastructure, and limited generation capacity continue to undermine the stability of the grid.
As the investigation unfolds, attention has shifted toward how the Ministry and ZESA Holdings will respond to mounting calls for reform. Many citizens are demanding not only accountability but also tangible improvements in power reliability — especially as the country heads into the rainy season, when infrastructure failures often worsen.
For now, the dismissal of Abel Gurupira marks yet another leadership shake-up in Zimbabwe’s troubled energy sector. Whether it will lead to lasting change remains uncertain, but the message from government is clear: after a national humiliation that played out before the world, someone had to take the fall.
Source- Bulawayo24
