Online Reporter
Nelson Gahadza
Senior Business Reporter
Zimbabwe’s electricity generation continued to recover in the first quarter of 2026, after output rose 20,9 percent year-on-year, signalling improved generation capacity and greater stability in the country’s power supply system.
The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) said its Index of Electricity Generation (IEG) increased to 117,2 in the quarter, from 97,0 recorded in the corresponding period last year.
The index was also marginally higher than the 117,0 recorded in the fourth quarter of 2025, representing a 0,16 percent quarter-on-quarter increase.
This points to a sustained improvement in domestic power generation after years of investment in generation infrastructure and improved availability from existing and new power stations.
The IEG is an economic indicator measuring changes in the volume of electricity generated in Zimbabwe over time, using the first quarter of 2019 as the base period.
It is compiled from administrative data obtained from the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA).
ZimStat said the increase in power generation was largely supported by Zimbabwe’s major generation stations, with Hwange Power Station remaining the dominant contributor to domestic electricity production during the period.
Hwange generated 1 647,4 gigawatt hours (GWh) in the first quarter, accounting for 56,3 percent of total electricity generated in the country.
Kariba Power Station followed with 926,9GWh, representing 31,7 percent, while independent power producers (IPPs) contributed the remaining 12 percent.
“The strong contribution from Hwange comes against the background of increased generation capacity following the completion of the Hwange Units 7 and 8 expansion project, which has been central to efforts to reduce Zimbabwe’s reliance on electricity imports and improve the reliability of domestic supply,” reads part of the report.
The improved generation position, however, has not eliminated the need for imports.
Zimbabwe imported 371,4GWh during the quarter, up 19,1 percent from 311,9GWh in the fourth quarter of 2025.
ZimStat said about 40 percent of imported electricity came from HCB in Mozambique, while DAM (Day Ahead Market) under the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) accounted for 37,8 percent.
EDM of Mozambique supplied 8,7 percent, while Zambia’s ZESCO contributed 13,4 percent.
Zimbabwe recorded a notable increase in electricity exports during the quarter, with exports reaching 445,6GWh, up 27,4 percent from 349,8GWh in the preceding quarter.
NamPower of Namibia received 120GWh, accounting for 34,3 percent of exports, while CEC received 110,5GWh, or 31,6 percent.
“The simultaneous increase in imports and exports reflects the increasingly interconnected nature of regional electricity markets, where utilities can balance supply requirements through power trading arrangements,” ZimStat said.
Despite the improvement in generation, electricity distribution declined during the quarter. ZimStat reported that 1 736,7GWh was distributed in the first quarter, 23,3 percent lower than the 2 264,2GWh recorded in the fourth quarter of 2025.
The distribution figures show that electricity remained heavily concentrated among productive sectors of the economy.
Manufacturing, transport and construction consumed 665,3GWh, representing 38,3 percent of distributed electricity, while mining and quarrying accounted for 495,7GWh, or 28,5 percent.
Domestic consumers used 492,7GWh, equivalent to 28,4 percent of distributed electricity.
