ZIMBABWEANS should brace for worse load shedding following "severe supply constraints" being experienced at South African power utility Eskom.
The national power utility advised consumers about the latest development in a statement yesterday.
"Zesa Holdings would like to advise its valued customers countrywide that there is an increase in load shedding outside the publicised schedule due to limited supplies of electricity imports from the region," reads the statement.
"Customers will experience suppressed power supplies until imports from the region are restored to normal levels.
"Customers will be updated accordingly as the power imports from the region improve."
Zesa is struggling to supply the country with electricity due to drastically reduced water levels at Kariba Dam.
As a result, it now relies on exports from South Africa and Mozambique (Hydro Cahora Bassa), and technical problems experienced in the two countries will have an effect on Zimbabwe.
South Africa supplies Zimbabwe with 400 megawatts of electricity but the deal reportedly stipulates that when Eskom faces some challenges, it reduces exports to Zimbabwe to zero. At most, Zimbabwe experiences 12 to 18-hour load shedding and with the latest development, the country is now in a dire situation.
Zimbabwe owes Eskom US$27 million. Last month, it paid US$10 million towards the debt as part of its commitment to clear the arrears.
- dailynews
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