ZESA Hikes Tariffs Whilst The Power Situation Worsens In Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is riddled with numerous challenges right now. Water challenges are definitely one of the topmost ones. I know of areas where they have not seen water coming out of their taps in over 14 years. In Harare, it is now a principle not to drink water from taps because it is usually unsafe. I will not even get started with the mobile network issues – we are beyond exhausted by the inconvenience. Lately the electricity situation has been getting worse, just like in South Africa. It is now the norm to see ZETDC updates pertaining to faults, DAILY. Just the other day there was a nationwide power transmission disruption. Not too long ago, ZETDC decided to increase the electricity tariffs. Let us look at these latest developments and discuss some key issues.

ZESA Hiked Tariffs Effective From 21 September 2022

The new tariffs are as follows:

The old tariffs, which were effective from 3 August 2022, were as follows:

Recent Nationwide Power Transmission System Disruption

Around 1000hrs on the morning of the 27^th of September 2022, I noticed there had been a power outage at home. I actually thought it was just some local fault, but later on, it turned out it was a nationwide thing. I saw many people complaining on social media, particularly on Twitter.

Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) later on issued a notice. Part of their notice read as follows:

“Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) would like to apologize to its valued customers for an unplanned nationwide power outage that happened at 1026HRS. This was due to an abrupt system disturbance on the Alaska-Warren high voltage transmission power lines (linking Kariba and Harare). Our Engineers have since resolved this.”

They also encouraged people to use electricity sparingly as the national grid is still experiencing depressed generation. This was more of a reiteration of what they had said in a notice prior on the 24^th of September 2022.

Increased Load Shedding From 24 September 2022

Here is what they said:

“Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) would like to advise its valued customers that there is increased load curtailment from the 24^th of September 2022. This is due to technical challenges being experienced at our Kariba and Hwange Power Stations as well as import constraints. The utility is therefore conducting a maintenance exercise to ensure full restoration of service.”

Ironically, load shedding is simply a means to manage a problem; it is not a way of addressing the actual problem. Again there is mention of ‘import constraints’. This means as a nation, we still rely on power imports. That is also not a way of addressing the root cause. Increased local power generation is the answer; we have to explore all our locally available options.

Still Boggles The Mind Why We Are Not Prioritizing Solar Farms In Zimbabwe

Yesterday I saw a funny yet illustrative meme or joke. It was as follows:

Scientific Fact: In a single hour, the amount of power from the sun that strikes the Earth is more than the entire world consumes in a year.

Aliens: ‘…and these guys fight for oil…’

That might have been a meme or joke to some, but it spoke differently to me and many others. It illustrated the colossal amount of power available in the form of solar energy. As a nation, Zimbabwe has the capacity to generate at least 10 000 GW Hours of solar energy in a year. With just solar power alone, we can cater to Zimbabwe’s power needs and even export power. All other power generated from other sources would just become auxiliary.

Unfortunately, it seems the adamant focus is on Kariba and Hwange. Some companies and independent power producers seem to take solar power generation seriously. I once did an article highlighting some of Zimbabwe’s ongoing or completed solar projects. However, government authorities are yet to roll out significant solar power generation drives. For example, ZETDC has an open invitation to solar energy producers for net metering. That is well and good but why is it that ZETDC is not doing solar energy production itself? The bottom line is there is an urgent need for the setting up of solar farms all across the country. More has to be done because it is strange how a nation can have power struggles yet be blessed with mostly sunny days.