Merchant Services Manager (Harare)

Library Technical Assistant

Assistant Binder

Broadcast Technician

Research, Innovation and Industry Linkage Officer (RIILO)

Safety, Health and Environmental (SHE) Officer

Procurement Officer

Intellectual Property Management Officer

Research Officers x2

Business Development Officers x2

Innovation Lead (Engineering)

Innovation Lead (Arts & Creative Industries)

Innovation Manager

Public Health Specialist: Prevention, Care & Treatment (Harare)

Driver (Kariba)

Relief Drivers x8

Business Intelligence Analyst (Harare)

Contact Centre Agent-1 (Harare)

Switchboard Operator (OMAO) (Harare)

Procurement Manager (Bulawayo)

Auditor - ICT & Internal Control (Harare)

Legal Officer (Harare)

Auditor (Harare)

Director General (Harare)

ZESA Holdings has issued a grave warning regarding mining activities near the Marvel Substation in Bulawayo.
The substation, critical for distributing electricity to the city, the country, and parts of the southern African region, faces the risk of collapse due to these mining operations.
The potential destruction of electrical equipment could have far-reaching consequences.
The Marvel Substation plays a pivotal role in supplying power to essential facilities, serving approximately two million people across Bulawayo, Matabeleland South, and North provinces. Its significance extends beyond the city, impacting a vast population in the region.
Vital infrastructure, including Ncema Water Works (which provides water to Bulawayo), Turk Mine, How Mine, Fernhill Water Works, and the entire City of Bulawayo, depends on the reliable functioning of the Marvel Substation.
<a href="https://cite.org.zw/zesa-warns-of-mining-threat-to-critical-substation/">CITE</a> reported sources as saying the mining is being conducted by a group with “political connections” who are disregarding ZESA’s warnings about the dangers of mining near the substation. Said a source:
<blockquote>
Marvel Substation connects all power stations in Bulawayo and surrounding areas. It is linked to other regions of the country and the whole of South Africa via the Insukamini Substation.
</blockquote>
Blasting from the mining activities poses a significant risk to the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company’s (ZETDC) operations and substation infrastructure. Added the source:
<blockquote>
These mining explosions threaten the infrastructure and could disrupt the electricity supply not only in Bulawayo but also across Zimbabwe and the region.
Those mining at the location have been warned of the potential harm, yet they continue their activities.
</blockquote>
ZESA insiders also expressed concern about the risk of electrocution for substation staff if the infrastructure is damaged by voltage interference.
ZETDC’s Engineering Manager, Proud Mundenda, referred inquiries to ZESA Holdings’ Stakeholder Relations Communication and Welfare George Manyaya.
Manyaya then directed CITE’s queries to ZETDC’s acting public relations officer, Alaina Suliwa, who reportedly requested written questions.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Mining Activities Threaten Critical ZESA Substation

ZESA Holdings has dismissed as false, a post on social media site, X, which alleges that the Supreme Court ordered the power utility to pay Wicknell Chivayo US$33 million after the company’s “CEO” allegedly failed to appear in court.
Chivayo is a controversial socialite who has been buying expensive cars for artists linked to ZANU PF over the past few weeks.
In a statement, ZESA Holdings said it has no case that is pending before the Supreme Court involving Chivayo. It said:
<blockquote>
ZESA Holdings has taken note of a post circulating on social media, falsely claiming that the Supreme Court has ordered the payment of US$33 Million to Mr. Wicknell Chivayo.
The post further alleges that the order was granted against ZESA after its “CEO” allegedly failed to appear in court.
We would like to advise our valued stakeholders that the contents of the aforesaid post are grossly misleading, false and maliciously calculated to misinform the general public.
For the avoidance of doubt, ZESA has no case that is pending before the Supreme Court involving the individual referred to in the post circulating on social media.
ZESA reassures its customers, stakeholders and the general public of its commitment to principles of good governance, chief among which are integrity and accountability.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZESA Dismisses US$33 Million Payment To Chivayo Report

The Minister of Energy and Power Development, Edgar Moyo, has said private sector investments in Zimbabwe’s power sector have been negatively affected by currency-induced risks.
Moyo told <a href="https://www.theindependent.co.zw/business-digest/article/200021234/currency-crisis-holding-back-power-deals-govt">The Independent</a> that the Government will ensure that a cost-reflective electricity tariff is in place to capacitate power utility ZESA Holdings and attract investment from the private sector. He said:
<blockquote>
Everything hinges on currency convertibility. Everything hinges on the capacity of the off-taker (of electricity) to pay through a cost-reflective tariff, which is now being addressed. These are some of the measures that have been put in place to attract investments.
The other thing is that we are not looking so much from outside. We want to mobilise resources internally for the upgrade and integrity of our transmission infrastructure and the development of new lines.
We are looking at the current route towards cost reflectivity to capacitate the utility (ZESA) to improve our transmission.
We have said the private sector must play its part. The government will remain largely as a regulator and not an active player.
Beyond that, we are inviting the private sector through policy formulation (especially) the indexation of the tariffs to the US dollars.
</blockquote>
In October, the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) awarded ZESA a 2 US cents tariff increase, taking the price to 12 US cents, from 10 US cents.
However, the current average power price per kilowatt hour (kwh) in southern Africa is 12.54 US cents.
The majority of Zimbabweans pay for electricity in the local currency, which depreciated by over 700% this year alone.
The country is currently generating just over 1 000 megawatts (MW) per day against a national demand estimated at 1 800 MW.
On Wednesday, 27 December, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), which is ZESA Holdings’ power generating unit, said the country was generating a total of 1 187 MW.
Hwange Power Station was producing a paltry 382 MW even though its installed capacity is over 1 000MW.
Kariba South Hydro Power Station was generating the bulk of the power, 750MW, despite dwindling water levels in Lake Kariba.
ZPC said independent power producers (IPPs) were generating 55MW.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Low Electricity Tariffs Holding Back Investments Into Energy Sector - Minister

The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) Holdings says the current gap between electricity demand and supply will continue in the medium term.
Zimbabwe requires 1 850 megawatts per day and on Friday the country was generating 1 285 megawatts, with 41 megawatts coming from independent power producers (IPPs), while Kariba and Hwange were producing 570 megawatts and 674 megawatts respectively.
ZESA Executive Chairperson, Sydney Gata told <a href="https://www.zbcnews.co.zw/?p=17473">ZBC News</a> that the ongoing load shedding is attributable to subdued generation capacity at Kariba South Hydro Power Station.
Gata revealed that Kariba South hydropower station currently generates 300 megawatts against an installed capacity of 1050 megawatts.
This comes after the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) restricted water allocations for power generation due to low water levels in the Kariba Dam. Said Gata:
<blockquote>
Generally, power supply in the short to medium term will continue to be a challenge. The predominant factor here is the hydrology of the Zambezi River which seems to be affected by climate change.
We have 1 050 megawatts of installed capacity at Kariba South. We have been directed to only use 300 megawatts of capacity which means we have lost 750 megawatts which is 50 percent of the dependable capacity of Zimbabwe’s power.
</blockquote>
He said ZESA has come up with a contingency plan that will address the power situation in the medium to long term. Gata said:
<blockquote>
We now have contingency plans made possible, we have already received power station proposals from IPPS who want to finance their own power stations, and coal power base load plants.
They will aggregate that to 1600 megawatts. This is because we now have a cost-reflective tariff. We are also sitting on over 100 licences for small renewable energy IPP projects.
</blockquote>
The construction of two new units at Hwange Power Station (7 and 8) to generate a combined 600 megawatts has not resulted in reduced load shedding.
Unit 7 tripped two weeks before it was due for Class C maintenance resulting in longer power cuts. Unit 8 is set to be taken off the grid soon as it is also due for Class C maintenance.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZESA Boss Says Load Shedding To Continue In The Medium Term

Power utility ZESA Holdings is utilising a huge chunk of its resources to import power from neighbouring countries, with the import bill ballooning to US$250 million a year.
Local businesses and residents of affluent suburbs have been forced to use backup diesel generators due to power blackouts.
ZESA Holdings’ power generation unit, the Zimbabwe Power Company, generates about 1 500 megawatts per day, against a national demand of at least 1 800MW.
In order to cover the shortfall ZESA imports from South Africa’s power utility Eskom, Hydro Cahora Bassa of Mozambique, and from Zambia.
Speaking during the signing of an MoU between ZESA Enterprises and Chinese firm Dinson Iron and Steel Company, ZESA executive chairman Sydney Gata said the power utility was spending too much on power imports. Gata said, as quoted by <a href="https://businesstimes.co.zw/zesa-fret-over-hefty-import-bill/">Business Times</a>:
<blockquote>
We are spending too much. In one year we spent a quarter of a billion dollars but I am pleased to say that our government is aware of the challenges and we are working on initiatives that will bring an end to our challenges.
</blockquote>
Turning to the deal with Dinson Iron and Steel Company, which is constructing a US$1.5 billion steel manufacturing plant in Manhize near Mvuma, Gata said the power utility will be able to acquire steel products locally. He said:
<blockquote>
In terms of the agreement, we will provide steel products for use in infrastructure with the most notable being transmission towers and steel used for power transmission infrastructure.
We have been importing this from China, Japan, India and sometimes also from South Africa. We will make them here in Zimbabwe and we are grateful for this game-changer.
Steel is a major part of the transformation of any economy for the good of the nation as a whole.
</blockquote>
ZESA Enterprises Managing Director Godfrey Mugaviri signed on behalf of the power utility.
Dinson Iron and Steel company chairman Benson Xu said:
<blockquote>
To me the most important things are steel and power, that is electricity. Without electricity and steel, there is no vision to talk about.
Vision 2030 mainly talks about industrialisation and it is all about power and steel at the end of the day.
I am happy our company is part of the journey to achieve that. I am happy we are strengthening relations between ZESA Enterprises to achieve the targets of that vision together.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZESA "Spending Too Much" On Power Imports, Says Gata

<a href="https://pindula.co.zw/ZESA">ZESA Holdings</a> chief executive Howard Choga has said the power utility aims to more than double national grid capacity by 2025 to meet increasing demand mainly driven by the mining industry.
Addressing a mining conference on Thursday in Victoria Falls, Choga said that ZESA expects to add 2 300 MW to the grid by 2025. <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/zimbabwe-aims-double-power-output-by-2025-meet-mining-demand-2023-06-01/?rpc=401&amp;">Reuters</a> quoted Choga as saying:
<blockquote>
We expect that by 2025, we would have added 2 300 MW to the grid. I must say over 80% of the 2 300 MW is demand from miners.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe currently has a generating capacity of 2 000 megawatts (MW) but is producing less than 1 500 MW due to regular breakdowns at its thermal power stations and low water levels at Kariba Dam for the Kariba Hydropower plant.
As of Thursday, 01 June 2023, the Zimbabwe Power Company, a subsidiary of ZESA Holdings, was generating a total of 1 423 MW.
Choga also revealed that Zambia and Mozambique cut off electricity supplies to Zimbabwe over failure to pay for imports. He said:
<blockquote>
We have had a discontinuation of supply from Zambia and Mozambique because we failed to pay. After accumulated bills imports were then discontinued on March 13.
</blockquote>
In December 2021, the Government unveiled incentives meant to help bring 1 100 MW of new solar projects on stream by 2025 but little progress has been made due to a lack of investment in new energy projects.
At the conference, miners complained of losing up to 12 hours of production time daily due to power cuts.
Zimbabweans are spending more than 12 hours each day without electricity both at home and at the office. 
The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) recently offered some tips on managing electricity usage in the office saying this helps alleviate pressure on the grid. Here are the tips:
<ul>
<li>Replace all incandescent lights with compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) or light-emitting diodes (LEDs).</li>
<li>During the day, where possible, use natural lighting from windows rather than using lights.</li>
<li>Switch off all lights when leaving the office.</li>
<li>Switch off computers and printers from the plug, when leaving the office. Appliances on standby mode still consume energy.</li>
<li>Insulate water heaters, hot water piping, and tanks to reduce heat loss.</li>
<li>Invest in energy-efficient air conditioning systems and energy-efficient electronic devices. Opt for fan heaters instead of element heaters.</li>
<li>Go green, and use renewable energy. Consider installing solar panels for other energy needs, and sell the excess to the grid.</li>
</ul>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZESA Aims To Add 2 300 MW To The Grid By 2025

ZESA Holdings says it has ring-fenced 120MW for the 2023 winter wheat season to ensure that the country attains the Government’s target of 85000 hectares.
In a statement, the power utility also said it has established support groups for winter wheat farmers where they can report faults so that they are fixed expeditiously. ZESA said:
<blockquote>
Subsequent to the recent update on the power supply situation on 25 April 2023, ZESA Holdings is pleased to announce that mechanisms have been put in place to guarantee electricity supply to all the Winter Wheat Farmers across the country.
The utility is cognisant of its role and expectations in powering this sector to achieve wheat self-sufficiency and meet the Government’s target of 85000 Hectares for the year 2023.
Accordingly, the utility has put in place the requisite modalities to ring-fence 120MW towards this national initiative.
Furthermore, in a bid to minimize the duration of power outages due to network faults throughout the season, the utility has established support groups for winter wheat farmers for effective communication and expeditious resolution of faults.
Wheat farmers are urged to join these groups through their cluster leadership.
Our National Contact Centre will be available for the continuous and timeous support of farmers throughout the season.
</blockquote>
In 2022, Zimbabwe registered its largest wheat harvest, 375 000 tonnes, making the country self-sufficient.
The harvest in 2022 was 13% higher than the previous year, breaking a half-century-old record.
Zimbabwe has been one of the few African countries to attain self-sufficiency in wheat production.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZESA Allocates 120MW To Winter Wheat Farmers

<a href="https://wiki.pindula.co.zw/ZESA">ZESA Holdings</a>‘ acting managing director Norbert Mataruse has said it needs at least US$5 million to resuscitate the Harare Power Station. 
He made the remarks during the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Energy tour to assess the state of affairs at the power plant. <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200010635/us5m-required-to-resuscitate-harare-power-station">NewsDay</a> cites Mataruse as saying:
<blockquote>
We need about US$5 million for this plant to enable us to get a turbine that is meant for rehabilitation to bring the plant to life. When we look at the whole plant, we need far more. This amount will only get us to 30 megawatts.
The plants were built in 1942 and 1958 and they are very old and need rehabilitation. What we are focusing on now is for Zesa and Zimbabwe Power Station to repurpose small thermal stations so that investors can come in and take over the running of stations through some kind of agreement.
</blockquote>
According to Mataruse, the Harare Power Station has additional problems with its boiler pumps that require US$50 000 for repairs in South Africa. The plant’s boilers are old and suffer from tube leaks, and coal ash produces solid waste that requires investment to manage.
The power station’s bulldozers for moving coal are currently broken and need repair. The milling plant requires US$516 000, but a US$77 000 deposit is needed to manufacture the necessary equipment.
Mataruse stated that the power plant had not undergone significant maintenance, which is why it has aged and is now failing.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

ZESA Needs US$5 Million To Resuscitate Harare Power Station

Energy and Power Development Minister Zhemu Soda has said the commissioning of two new units at Hwange Thermal Power Plant, that is units 7 and 8, “is complex”.
This comes amid indications that the state-owned power utility, ZESA Holdings, has missed several deadlines to commission the units and ease load shedding in the country.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.businessweekly.co.zw/power-outages-ease-supply-not-guaranteed/">Business Weekly</a> last week, Soda said the synchronisation of Unit 7 for it to come on board was “almost complete.” He said:
<blockquote>
A lot of processes are involved; these include testing the performance compliance levels at various production levels.
You need to understand the behaviour of the plant; say when it is producing 100 MW, or 200MW.
So even when we switch them on, we still have to do all those processes and when that is done, we can then start producing at a commercial scale.
</blockquote>
Soda said the COVID-19 pandemic also delayed the commissioning of units 7 and 8 as technicians from China could not travel to Zimbabwe.
He added that Sino Hydro, the company contracted to build 7 &amp; 8 had subcontracted ABB to conduct testing of the protection system but due to the resurgence of the pandemic late last year, the technicians failed to travel to Zimbabwe.
When the technicians eventually arrived, it took time for them to understand the system and they also needed to be reinforced by a team from South Africa.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

"Commissioning Of Hwange Units 7 & 8 Complex"

The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) is owed ZWL$14 billion (about US$20 million at the official rate) by its customers.
This was said by Deputy Energy and Power Development Minister Magna Mudyiwa in the Senate on Thursday while responding to questions on the current power crisis.
Mudyiwa said ZESA introduced prepaid meters because people were not paying their bills. She said:
<blockquote>
People would (use) as much electricity as they wanted and would not pay up. For your information, ZESA is owed about $14 billion right now.
ZESA is not getting any funding from the government for its operations. It is a company that is supposed to run on its own just like any other company.
It is supposed to buy equipment (such as) vehicles that are used when attending to faults.
They are supposed to procure fuel and are not getting forex because many people are paying in Zimbabwe dollars.
ZESA is supposed to pay its workers. You might have heard that there is a lot of brain drain that took place at ZESA and a lot of professionals left this country and went as far as UK and Australia and ZESA is supposed to pay its workers adequately – all that is not happening because ZESA is owed a lot of money by consumers.
All these units that we are using at Hwange need revamping, they are very old and need rehabilitation but there is no money because ZESA is owed more than (14) billion dollars.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe is facing one of its worst power crises due to depressed generation at its power plants resulting from low water levels in the case of Kariba, and recurrent breakdowns and coal shortages at its coal-fired power stations.
On 09 December 2022, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) was generating a total of 438MW from its five power stations.
Hwange was generating 218MW, Kariba 200, Bulawayo 20, Harare 0MW and Munyati 0MW. | <a href="https://insiderzim.com/zesa-owed-14-billion/">The Insider</a>

"ZESA Owed $14 Billion By Consumers"

ZESA’s failure to pay coal producers on time has “heavily incapacitated” them as they can no longer have working capital.
ZESA’s four thermal power stations, Hwange, Harare, Munyati, and Bulawayo are not operating at full capacity due to coal shortages.
According to Coal Producers Association (CPA) chairman Linos Masimura who is also the managing director of Zambezi Gas, the miners had become so incapacitated “to even fail to load the trucks.”
Three companies namely Zambezi Gas, Turbo Mine, which is mining in Hwange western areas, and Hwange Colliery Company Ltd are supplying coal to thermal plants. Said Masimura:
<blockquote>
We haven’t been paid for four or so months and the viability of producers is now severely eroded; they (ZESA) have basically taken all our working capital.
</blockquote>
Masimura said coal miners were capable of supplying ZESA’s coal requirements for all plants. He said:
<blockquote>
But it is now a matter of them paying and collecting. They are collecting revenue from their consumers but they are not paying us. Why?
</blockquote>
In an interview with Business Weekly, ZESA executive chairman Sydney Gata confirmed owing the coal miners. He said:
<blockquote>
At all times, there is always a balance to be paid but the problem with some of the coal producers is that they can’t even wait for two weeks to get paid.
</blockquote>
With Hwange Unit 7 expected to come online in the next few weeks, according to official timelines, concerns have been raised over the adequate availability of coal.
Masumura complained that contracts to supply coal for Unit 7 were awarded only to two companies, namely Turbo mine, linked to businessman Billy Rautenbach and Hwange Colliery Company Ltd. He said:
<blockquote>
Some of our members had expanded capacity in preparation for units seven and eight but sadly, only two producers were awarded the contracts.
We formally raised the dangers of risk concentration, especially when dealing with a project of national significance.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, Makomo Resources, which is now the country’s largest coal miner, is facing serious viability challenges and is under corporate rescue. | <a href="https://www.businessweekly.co.zw/electricity-waiting-for-the-rains/">Business Weekly</a>

ZESA Fails To Pay Coal Suppliers

ZESA Holdings says load shedding will ease considerably in the coming weeks with Zimbabwe soon to get up to 500MW of electricity from Zambia and Mozambique, while Hwange Power Station’s Unit 7 should be feeding 300MW into the national grid before month end.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/major-boost-to-electricity-situation-as-500mw-lined-up-from-zambia-mozambique/">The Herald</a>, ZESA Holdings executive chairman Sydney Gata said that the power utility expects to import 250MW from Zambia and another 250MW from Mozambique. Said Gata:
<blockquote>
As for the current load shedding, there is a relief that is coming. We ran around and apart from getting a bit more from Kariba, we will be getting a bit more from Zambia and Mozambique.
From Zambia, we are getting 100MW and they are looking for another 50MW for us there is also a member of the Intensive Energy Users Group who is also looking for another 100MW. So we may get as much as 250MW from Zambia.
Mozambique, I was there recently and we agreed that they will run around and increase from the 60MW they have been giving us, to 100MW immediately, and there is another 150MW which could be coming from Monday next week. So Mozambique should give us 250MW maximum.
</blockquote>
Gata said if all goes according to plan, Hwange’s Unit 7 is expected to start feeding electricity into the grid before month’s end. He said:
<blockquote>
The unit itself, in terms of operating, is actually ready to generate. However, there was a delay in the equipment required to connect it to the grid.
So far we expect that it could be around the 20th of this month. It could be later, it could be earlier, but thereabout and surely by Christmas, Unit 7 should be in service, barring unforeseen situations.
</blockquote>
Unit 7 has the capacity to generate 300MW, while Unit 8 will also add another 300MW to the main grid when completed in the first quarter of 2023.

ZESA Says Electricity Situation Will Improve Soon

The Harare City Council has advised residents that the current electricity crisis in the country has affected the local authority’s capacity to supply water to residents within the scheduled water rationing scheme.
Load shedding has intensified in the past month with consumers going for at least 18 hours a day without electricity.
The power utility, Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), is currently generating around 500MW against a peak demand of 2 200MW.
The electricity crisis has been attributed to recurrent breakdowns at the Hwange Thermal Power Station as well as receding water levels at Kariba Dam which supplies water for power generation to Zimbabwe’s only reliable power plant, the Kariba South power station.
In a post on its official social media handle on Monday, the City of Harare said the power cuts have negatively affected the pumping of water to residents. It said:
<blockquote>
The City of Harare wishes to advise all the residents and other stakeholders that the incessant power cuts have affected the scheduled water rationing scheme.
Some parts of the city which receive water through a series of pumping will be greatly affected. Any inconvenience caused is sincerely regretted.
</blockquote>
ZimLive reported a source at Town House as saying the situation is dire as operations at the Morton Jaffrey treatment plant have virtually stalled.
Harare Residents Trust Director Precious Shumba said that water challenges in Harare’s suburbs started long before the current electricity crisis. Said Shumba:
<blockquote>
Electricity challenges have worsened the situation but the root cause of inadequate water supplies is the ageing underground water infrastructure, poor prioritisation of water provision and shortage of water treatment chemicals due to the unavailability of foreign currency.
Most suburbs have been experiencing water shortages for several months now, even before the electricity supplies worsened.
</blockquote>
| <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/power-cuts-worsen-harare-water-woes-as-treatment-works-stall/">ZimLive</a>

Load Shedding Has Disrupted Pumping Of Water, Says Harare Council

A local energy expert, Victor Utedzi, says Zimbabwe needs to make huge investments in solar energy to deal with its current energy crisis.
On Thursday, Zimbabwe had a shortfall of nearly 900MW, according to ZESA’s internal daily updates.
The Zambezi River Authority (ZRA), which manages Kariba Dam, last week advised ZESA to stop production at the Kariba South hydroelectric plant because of low usable water levels.
Speaking during an interview with <a href="https://www.news24.com/news24/africa/news/explainer-inside-zimbabwes-power-generation-crisis-20221201">News24,</a> Utedzi said another option that Zimbabwe has is to ask to purchase water from the Zambian side of the Kariba Dam. He said:
<blockquote>
The solution [to Zimbabwe’s power crisis] is to increase the variety of power generation avenues in the country from other sources.
The 600MW Hwange extension will help by reducing the amount of generation.
The country has to deploy more solar photovoltaic (PV), which works during the day and allows water to be conserved.
Solar is clearly the best prospect. It’s the lowest cost, quick to build, and the sun is in abundant supply in the country. There are also good wind resources spread throughout the country.
The Zimbabwe National Water Authority has a number of dams already built, which could provide up to 500MW of power.
There’s the Muzabani oil and gas prospect drilling by Invictus. It’s still subject to a successful drilling programme.
Even then, there is a need for significant capital spending to extract the gas, clean it into a usable form for power generation, and build transportation facilities for consumers.
It’s an excellent prospect that will require significant capital to be fully exploited.
</blockquote>
He said Zimbabwe should improve the ease of doing business and assure investors that the environment is safe and profitable as it is competing with its neigbours for the same pool of capital.

"Zimbabwe Should Make Huge Investments In Solar Energy"

Former ZESA Holdings chief executive, Josh Chifamba, said that the sub-economic tariff which the power utility has been charging “for a long time” is the main reason for the current electricity crisis.
Last week, the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA), which manages Kariba Dam, ordered ZESA to stop production at the Kariba South hydroelectric plant because of low usable water levels.
ZRA advised ZESA that a further review of the substantive Hydrological Outlook at Kariba will be undertaken in January.
Kariba is the country’s largest power plant, with the capacity of producing 1 050MW, and has been the most reliable.
The ageing Hwange Thermal Power Station, which is the country’s second-largest plant, has become unreliable because most of its equipment is obsolete.
Speaking during an interview with <a href="https://www.businessweekly.co.zw/zim-pays-price-for-sub-economic-power-tariffs/">Business Weekly</a>, Chifamba said:
<blockquote>
Issues in the sector have been left unresolved for far too long. The main Achilles’ heel has been sub-economic tariffs and an unfavourable macroeconomic environment. That has to be fixed.
</blockquote>
He said the country should have invested in new power stations to avoid over-relying on Kariba Power Station.
Chifamba said the rationale for Kariba expansion was that with additional generators, load shedding, especially at peak, would be alleviated. He said:
<blockquote>
Kariba would change from running as a base load (24-hour) station and operate as a mid–merit cum peak (18-hour) station.
You cannot run Kariba as a base load station because that consumes a lot of water.
The impact on the economy can be so huge. We had a similar situation in 2015 when water levels declined and production went down to around 200 MW.
That is why we resorted to bringing on Dema (diesel power plant) (The situation was so bad).
So the addition of generators at Kariba is not, in and of itself, the cause of the water problem at Kariba.
</blockquote>
Chifamba noted that Zambia’s ZESCO, with the same capacity as ZESA at Kariba; after having built new power stations; has kept within its water allocation.
He urged ZESA to immediately move towards a cost-reflective tariff to enable the country to import. Said Chufamba:
<blockquote>
They should try to mop up power in the region’ so they need to revise the tariffs so that they will have (enough) equivalent Zimbabwe dollars to pay for the imports.
</blockquote>
Currently, customers are paying US9.2c kWh, excluding exporters, which can be paid in local currency at the prevailing interbank rate.
Exporters, with effect from October 1, 2022, are paying US10.12c per kWh.
Meanwhile, the World Bank carried out a study on the country’s power tariff regime and recommended a cost-reflective price of US15c kWh.

Zimbabwe Paying Price For Sub-economic Electricity Tariffs, Says Former ZESA Official

The government has announced plans for a complete dissolution of all <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/ZESA">ZESA Holdings</a> subsidiary boards saying the move is one of the priorities under the state enterprises and parastatals reform agenda. In his 2023 Budget presentation last week, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said:
<blockquote>
State Enterprise and Parastatals reforms have been guided by the SEPs Short to Medium Term Reform Framework (SEPs-SMTRF), the National Development Strategy (NDS) 1 and Vision 2030. Drawing lessons from the successes and challenges faced in implementing the SEPs-SMTRF since 2018, it is envisaged that the SEPs reform priorities for 2023 will be guided by the following:
(a) Completion of the following on-going SEPs reforms:
• Engagement of strategic partners for IDBZ, <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/POSB">POSB</a>, IDC Subsidiaries, <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/TelOne">TelOne</a> and <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/NetOne_Zimbabwe">NetOne</a>;
• Merger of Genesis and <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Petrotrade">Petrotrade</a>;
• Merger of BAZ with <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Postal_and_Telecommunications_Regulatory_Authority_of_Zimbabwe">POTRAZ</a>;
• Merging of <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/PowerTel_Communications">Powertel</a>, Zarnet and <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Africom">Africom</a>;
• Complete dissolution of all subsidiary Boards for ZESA Holdings and allow ZPC to engage strategic partners for its power generation projects;
• Implement approved reforms and capacity enhancement for ZIMPARKS;
• Capital raising strategies for Silo Foods, <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_United_Passenger_Company">ZUPCO</a> and Allied Timbers; and
• Implementation of the short-term recapitalization strategy of the National Railways of Zimbabwe.
(b) Transform the Traffic Safety Council into a Traffic Safety Agency, with appropriate legal standing to effectively enforce road safety systems in the country.
(c) Undertake a holistic evaluation of public entities reforms through strategic portfolio reviews and comprehensive diagnostic analysis by sector. This will inform the best reform options for each entity on a case-by-case basis.
In this regard, line Ministries would be required to play a central role to ensure that all public entities under their purview are included in the reviewed Framework.
(d) A number of SOEs have been transformed and now operate viably, for example, Air Zimbabwe.
Government has over the years created investment vehicles and partnered private sector players through joint ventures, to invest in various.
</blockquote>
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

Govt Announces Plans For Complete Dissolution Of All ZESA Subsidiary Boards

Zimbabwe is now pinning hopes of improved electricity generation on the commissioning of unit 7 at the Hwange Power Station later this year as the water at the Kariba hydroelectric plant has fallen to a critically low level while existing generators at Hwange frequently break down.
According to ZESA Holdings’ internal statistics, the dam level of usable live water for generating power had dropped to 6.6 percent as of Thursday, 17 November.
Meanwhile, three generators at Hwange were shut down on Wednesday because of boiler tube leaks and the plant was running on two units, producing 231 megawatts to the plant’s rated capacity of 920 MW.
At Kariba, three units are down for various maintenance works and the plant was producing 475 MW.
All of the country’s small power units — Harare, Munyati and Bulawayo, were shut down due to coal shortages.
Independent power producers are supplying 29 MW to the grid and 290 MW are being imported from Zambia, South Africa, and Mozambique, but the country has a deficit of 612 MW.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.businessweekly.co.zw/zim-pins-hope-on-hwange-as-lake-kariba-drains/">Business Weekly</a> in an interview, Power and Energy Development Minister Zhemu Soda said the commissioning of unit 7 at Hwange is expected to feed 300 MW. Said Soda:
<blockquote>
Our hope now lies in unit seven. (Exiting) units at Hwange are coming out anytime and it’s no longer a surprise for us because the equipment has become too obsolete and we can’t rely on them.
</blockquote>
He said the commercial production may begin later this month or early December.
Unit 8, for an additional 300MW, is expected to come online during the first quarter of next year. Added:
<blockquote>
Although we are concerned about the water level at Kariba, Zambezi River Authority (which manages the lake) has advised us that we may continue generating and are also expecting early inflows to the lake due to early rain.
</blockquote>

Govts Pins Hope On Hwange Unit 7, As Kariba Depletes

The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has given permission to ZESA to bill the country’s biggest energy consumers – the Intensive Energy Users Group (IEUG) – in foreign currency to enable the power utility to raise cash to import electricity.
ZESA imports power from Mozambique’s Electricidade de Moçambique and Hydro Cahora Bassa, ESKOM of South Africa and Zambia’s ZESCO to augment local supplies.
<a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/big-energy-users-to-import-500mw">The Sunday Mail</a> reported a source as saying the exporters have been allowed to pay for electricity in foreign currency. Said the source:
<blockquote>
There is an intensive energy user group; it’s a group of exporters.
They have been allowed to pay for power in foreign currency and have that bill deducted from exports.
This will allow power to be priced in forex, to be paid in forex and to be paid in a jurisdiction where there is no foreign exchange control restriction.
Because of the shortage of power, we are now working together; exporters are ring-fencing the money.
All the exporting companies (members of IEUG) are now being made to pay for their power in foreign currency, but, at the same time, they will be assured of supply.
In return, the exporters said if there is no power, ZESA should import to supply us.
</blockquote>
RBZ governor John Mangudya confirmed the arrangement but did not give details.
IEUG chairperson Eddie Cross also confirmed the arrangement. He said:
<blockquote>
Yes, we got it. We got the authority to trade in US dollars and for members of the IEUG to pay for power from their export earnings prior to liquidation.
The current membership needs about 500MW, which is close to 30 per cent of the national demand. But the applications are still coming in.
We initially started with 70 companies and we are now getting many other companies applying for this.
</blockquote>

ZESA Bills Big Electricity Users In Foreign Currency

The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), a subsidiary of power utility ZESA Holdings, says there will be increased load shedding countrywide from 12 to 16 September 2022.
In a public notice, ZETDC said the increased power cuts have been caused by depressed generation and increased demand.
ZETDC said its engineers are working round the clock to ensure full restoration of service. It said:
<blockquote>
Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company would like to advise its valued customers countrywide that there will be increased load curtailment from the 12th to the 16th of September 2022.
This is due to depressed generation on the grid coupled with increased electricity demand as a result of increased economic activities.
Our Engineers are working round the clock to ensure full restoration of service.
Customers are advised to use electricity sparingly and to always switch off electrical appliances when not in use.
</blockquote>
Since Monday, electricity consumers in most parts of the country have to endure long hours, at times up to 16 hours, without electricity.

ZESA Explains Increased Load Shedding Hours

Gweru is set to be without water for five days per week due to electricity problems after the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company introduced a tight load-shedding schedule.
In a statement last week, the Gweru City Council said power would be cut for six to 10 hours per day at their main water suppliers, Gwenoro and Range Booster. Said the local government:
<blockquote>
We would like to advise residents, clients and stakeholders that power will be switched off for 10 and six hours respectively at Gwenoro Water Works (G2) and the Range Booster (G8).
Hence, we will not be pumping for 16 hours on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday owing to the recently released national 2021 load-shedding programme by ZETDC (Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company).
We, therefore, encourage residents to use water sparingly as some areas will not receive water at all on these days.
</blockquote>
Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Development Association Trust executive director David Chikore Saturday said the latest development, coupled with occasional water problems was likely to expose the city to water-borne diseases. 
Gweru water challenges have intensified when the city has for months been facing challenges in pumping water as a result of incessant pipe bursts caused by ageing infrastructure.
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2021/09/load-shedding-cuts-off-gweru-water-supplies/">NewsDay Zimbabwe</a>

Load-shedding Worsen Gweru Water Challenges

Zesa Holdings says consumers will not be able to buy pre-paid electricity coupons on 31 December and 1 January. The shutdown of the electricity vending platform is meant to facilitate “critical systems maintenance”. Below is the statement.
<blockquote>ZESA HOLDINGS (PVT) LTD 
Prepaid Electricity Vending Service Interruption
ZESA Holdings wishes to advise its valued customers that Prepaid Electricity Vending services will not be available from Thursday, 31st, December 2020 at 1900hrs to Friday, 1st, January 2021 at 0600hrs to facilitate for critical systems maintenance.
The planned shutdown of the Prepaid Electricity Vending System is meant to ensure improved service availability, delivery and continued operational efficiency as we get into the new year 2021.
Customers are encouraged to ensure that they have sufficient credit during this period to avoid the inconvenience of going without electricity.
The inconvenience caused is sincerely regretted.
Stakeholder Relations (29/12/2020)</blockquote>

ZESA Announce Interruption To Prepaid Electricity Vending

Local power utility, ZESA Holdings, has bought a fleet of operational vehicles and distribution transformers aimed at improving service delivery and increasing access to power by citizens.
ZESA unveiled 26 operational vehicles and 185 distribution transformers for its two subsidiaries Powertel and ZETDC.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, ZESA Executive Chairman Dr Sydney Gata and the Guest of Honour, Energy and Power Development Minister Honourable Zhemu Soda said the new equipment will improve service delivery. Gata said:
<blockquote>At times we hire vehicles or use those belonging to customers to attend to faults and this is because we have antiquated equipment.</blockquote>
Minister Soda who was represented by his Deputy Honourable Magna Mudyiwa, said:
<blockquote>Zesa is undergoing robust transformation and as Government, our goal is to support these initiatives to ensure that we modernise operations.</blockquote>
The power utility requires 4 500 distribution transformers of different capacities to operate optimally but vandalism and theft have impacted negatively on electricity supply and distribution.
The new transformers are part of a USD8.8 million contract to supply 2074 transformers to the parastatal.
This is happening when the country has for the past 24 months experienced an acute power crisis that has resultantly crippled operations in all sectors.
More: <a href="https://www.zbcnews.co.zw/zesa-breathes-sigh-of-relief/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ZBC News</a>

ZESA Buys New Vehicles And Distribution Transformers

Zimbabwe’s power utility, the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority has reiterated that the ongoing power cuts in the country are a result of faults on two generators at Hwange Thermal Power Station.
The power utility said load shedding will continue for as long as repairs on the two generators are not yet complete. Part of ZESA’s statement reads:
<blockquote>The depressed power supply has also been compounded by the unavailability of normal import levels due to constraints in the region.</blockquote>
ZESA said load curtailment will continue being exercised during the morning peak (5 am to 10 am) and evening peak (4 pm to 8 pm) across the country.
Some suburbs, including Warren Park in Harare, have been without power since Monday at a time when some people are working online from home.
Zimbabwe has since 2019 experienced the worst power crisis in a decade with some areas going for about 18 hours without power.
Authorities blame the shrinking water levels at Kariba Dam and ageing equipment for the crisis.
Auditor General’s reports for the past few years, however, suggest that corruption is part of the problem as some of the equipment bought to rehabilitate equipment at power stations never arrived.
The crisis has inevitably contributed to low production thereby worsening the economic and humanitarian crisis in the Southern African country.

"Loadshedding To Continue, " ZESA Announces Schedule

ZESA Holdings subsidiary, ZETDC has announced that load shedding was entering phase 2 as power generation remains depressed at Hwange. The company attributes this stressed performance to a technical fault at the plant. The notice read:
<blockquote>Kindly note that generation at Hwange is depressed due to a technical fault. Load shedding is now on Stage 2. Load shedding maybe above the publicised schedules. We apologize for any inconveniences caused.</blockquote>
See the tweet below:
https://twitter.com/ZetdcOfficial/status/1132090751456894982
More: <a href="https://twitter.com/ZetdcOfficial/status/1132090751456894982" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ZETDC</a>

NOTICE: Load Shedding Entering Stage 2, May Be Above Publicised Schedules - ZESA

Zimbabwean power utility, Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority needs US$15 million to replace vandalised equipment. The power utility which is believed to be planning to intensify load shedding is attributing unscheduled power cuts to vandalism.
ZESA’s subsidiary company, the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) revealed on Twitter that about 30 000 households are being affected by unscheduled power cuts countrywide. ZETDC said:
<blockquote>Up to 30 000 households are without power due to vandalism of about 4 000 transformers, cables and associated materials. ZETDC needs about USD15 million to replace the stolen materials. </blockquote>
<div class="sirius-dfp-inarticle">The power company also forewarned members of the public of a possibility to increase load-shedding hours. The power utility said:</div>
<blockquote>The published load shedding schedule is a guide for planning purposes &amp; is not fixed. If supplies improve on a given day, the shedding will be shorter than stipulated and if supply deteriorates, then shedding will be longer than advertised.</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/zetdc-loses-us15million-to-vandalism/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Chronicle</a>

ZESA Needs US$15 Million To Replace Vandalised Equipment

Zesa Holdings spokesperson Mr Fullard Gwasira confirmed that Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) has suspended eight  Energy Sector Workers Union of Zimbabwe (ESWUZ) without salaries and benefits for staging a demonstration last month.
The High Court had barred the workers from staging the demonstration. Said Gwasira:
<blockquote>There are eight members of staff who have been suspended for engaging in various illegal demonstrations between December 21, 2017 and February 28, 2018 and the company is within its right to discipline staff for infringement of internal labour statutes.</blockquote>
The demonstrations were on the awarding of tenders to Wicknell Chivayo, Highfield West National Assembly member Psychology Maziwisa and former ZBC news anchor Oscar Pambuka.
More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/zesa-suspends-eight-workers-over-demo/">Herald</a>

ZESA Suspends 8 Workers Without Pay For Staging Demo

In an update on Tuesday, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) indicated that it has shut down three smaller power stations due to poor coal supplies. Zimbabwe’s power generation at Hwange Thermal Power Station has dropped to under a third of capacity for the same reasons.
ZPC indicated that Hwange was producing 275 Mega Watts against an installed capacity of 920 Mega Watts while Kariba Power Station was generating 567 Mega Watts against an installed capacity of 750 Mega Watts. The three stations that were closed are Munyati, Bulawayo and Harare and they were not producing anything. The stations have an installed capacity of 100 Mega Watts, 90 Mega Watts and 75 Mega Watts, respectively. Speaking to The Source ZESA Holdings spokesperson, Fullard Gwasira indicated that they were not getting enough foreign currency and coal supplies.
ZPC uses between 3,000 and 4,000 tonnes of coal per day, and requires around 120,000 tonnes per month with their major supplier Makomo Resources stating that they were failing to pay for coal supplied resulting in production dropping to 60,000 tonnes a month from 200,000 tonnes.
More: <a href="http://source.co.zw/2017/05/zpc-shuts-three-power-stations-generation-hwange-drops-third-capacity-coal-shortages-bite/">The Source</a>

ZESA shuts down 3 power stations due to coal shortages

Zesa chief executive officer, Josh Chifamba told Parliament early this week that water levels at Kariba Dam were still worrisome and that the country would have to continue relying on power imports and supplies from the Dema diesel-powered generators. He said this as he advocated for a tarrif increase saying that the current tariff rates were unsustainable, adding they last had an electricity tariff review in 2012.
But chairperson of the Mines and Energy Portfolio Committee, Daniel Shumba said his committee would not support the proposal because tariff increases would scare away potential investors. The committee said Zesa needed to review its business model, avoid buying expensive electricity and power imports, as the country’s balance of payments was in the negative.
On progress in Kariba electricity generation projects, Chifamba said one of the two units under the Kariba South Extension project would be commissioned by December 2017.  Each of the two units have the capacity to produce 150 megawatts (MW), to complement power generation from Kariba South, which has an installed capacity of 750MW.
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2017/01/20/zesa-continue-seeking-upward-tariff-reviewceo/">NewsDay</a>

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