Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, Victoria Falls Reporter
ZIMBABWE Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) Holdings has assured the nation of a stable and reliable electricity supply throughout the festive season, citing improved power generation and strengthened mitigation measures.
The assurance comes amid an anticipated electricity demand during the holidays, when domestic consumption rises and tourism activities peak across the country.
Zesa Holdings general manager for stakeholder relations, Dr George Manyaya, said the power utility has made significant strides in improving power availability in 2025 compared to previous years, following a period marked by frequent load shedding due to generation constraints.
“As the year 2025 draws to a close and as we enter the festive season, Zesa Holdings would like to thank its valued customers and stakeholders for their continued support and resilience,” said Dr Manyaya yesterday.
“We acknowledge that there were ups and downs during the year, but with your support, we were able to implement mitigation measures. We are pleased to say that 2025 recorded improved power generation and electricity supply, which is better than in previous years.”
Dr Manyaya said Zesa projects a relatively stable power supply environment in December, with minimal system constraints and limited load management.
He said the improved outlook is largely driven by increased plant availability at Hwange Thermal Power Station Units 1 and 2, as well as improved output at Kariba South Hydro Power Station, which together have boosted domestic generation.
These gains have been further supported by electricity supplies from Independent Power Producers (IPPs), reducing reliance on emergency power imports.
To further cushion the national grid, Zesa has also secured additional electricity imports from the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) market.
In addition, the utility expects a reduction in demand pressure during the festive period as many industries traditionally shut down or scale back operations, freeing up power for domestic and commercial use.
“These efforts are expected to reduce the supply shortfall, leading to minimal load shedding during this festive period. During this period, there are various forms of tourism, people will be travelling and they need power,” said Dr Manyaya.
He also said Zesa was mindful of national events during the festive season, including Zimbabwe’s participation in the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) tournament to be held in Morocco.
“We are aware that the nation will be rallying behind the national football team during Afcon, and we want to assure Zimbabweans that mechanisms have been put in place to ensure minimal load curtailment during this period,” he said.
To ensure rapid response to faults and emergencies, Dr Manyaya said Zesa’s 24-hour National Contact Centre will remain fully operational throughout the festive season, with technical teams on standby countrywide.
The improved festive-season outlook aligns with the Government’s broader energy strategy, which focuses on increasing generation efficiency, expanding the role of IPPs, investing in transmission infrastructure and leveraging regional power trading to stabilise supply.
The improved power outlook marks a notable shift from recent years, when drought-induced low water levels at Kariba and ageing thermal infrastructure resulted in prolonged power outages that affected households, industry and economic activity.
Bongani Ndlovu