Load-shedding looms as ZESA fails to pay $77 million power import debt

Responding to questions in Parliament on Wednesday, Energy and Power Development Deputy Minister Senator Tsitsi Muzenda said non-payment by consumers has resulted in Zesa Holdings++ failing to service its external debt for power imports, which could result in load-shedding.

Said Muzenda:

The external debt currently stands at $77 million. There is a risk of curtailment of imports from Hydro Cahora Bassa and Eskom that may lead to load-shedding.

In September last year, Zesa reportedly owed Mozambique’s Hydro Cahora Bassa $10 million. Muzenda said the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) was owed $741 million for local power purchases and this is resulting in low coal stocks as winter approaches. Coal producers such as Hwange Colliery Company and Makomo Resources have also complained over delays in payment by Zesa, a development they said was a threat to their operations. The situation has been worsened by foreign currency shortages.

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