CHENGETAI ZVAUYA
The economy is relying on exporters who are paying for their bills in foreign currency which has helped power utility ZESA to import electricity to avert power outages, a parliamentary portfolio committee heard on Thursday.
Zimbabwe generates about 1 000MW, but requires about 1 800MW at peak periods. To cover for the shortfall, Zimbabwe imports from regional power utilises, especially from Eskom of South Africa and Mozambique’s Hydro Cahora Bassa.
Rolling power cuts, which last for 18 hours, have held the economy back which is also grappling with foreign currency shortages.
Energy and Power Development acting permanent secretary Nelson Manguwo told the parliamentary portfolio committee on Energy and Power Development that exporters are being spared from power cuts.
The committee is chaired by Binga South legislator Gabbuza Joel Gabuza.
“We are switching off everyone excluding the exporters when we are doing load shedding programme and we are having no mercy on defaulters. But we do have a challenge in switching off the exporters who are helping us in paying electricity to Eskom in South Africa,” Manguwo said.
He said Zimbabwe has to pay for electricity on the 5th of every month and appealed to non-exporters to “help the country in buying the electricity if they have free funds”.
He said government has been paying US$10 million every month in the past months for electricity imports.
“We are load-shedding 850 megawatts daily and we have ring-fenced those who are paying in forex mainly the exporters. The central business district is one of the places that are being spared in the load-shedding programme together with the exporters since we have many of our administrative business in the capital” Manguwo said.
