By Ebi Kesiena
A sudden power outage disrupted Zimbabwe’s Parliament as Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube concluded his budget speech.
The blackout left high-ranking officials, including President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga, and members of Parliament, sitting in darkness.
The incident futher revealed Zimbabwe’s energy crisis, characterized by daily 12-hour blackouts caused by a severe drought affecting power generation at the Kariba Dam, the nation’s primary electricity source.
Opposition MPs seized the moment, describing the blackout as a fitting metaphor for the country’s challenges.
Spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA), George Manyaya explained that the blackout was unplanned and attributed it to a lightning strike. He clarified that parliament operates on a dedicated power supply typically exempt from load shedding.
Before the lights went out, Finance Minister, Ncube acknowledged the agricultural sector’s struggles, projecting a 15% contraction this year due to the drought.
However, he expressed optimism for a 6% economic growth next year, citing forecasts of above-average rainfall expected to bolster agriculture and electricity supply.
