Zimbabwe and Zambia experienced widespread power outages on Sunday evening due to a fault that impacted both nations, according to statements from Zimbabwe Power Co. (ZPC) and Zambia’s state-owned utility, Zesco Ltd.
The blackout, which struck at 8:15 p.m. local time, marks the worst power disruption for Zambia in three years and for Zimbabwe since 2022, Bloomberg reported.
While the exact cause of the fault remains unclear, both countries are grappling with electricity shortages exacerbated by a severe drought that has significantly reduced hydroelectric power generation, their primary energy source.
ZPC reported that power has been restored in most parts of Zimbabwe. Meanwhile, Zambia, Africa’s second-largest copper producer, was still working on restoring supply as of Sunday night.
The struggle to close Africa’s electricity gap
In a previous article, Business Insider Africa talked about how access to reliable electricity is crucial for socio-economic development. However power generation in Africa remains plagued by numerous challenges. Africa’s energy deficit is a result of several factors: weak infrastructure, economic hurdles, and policy issues.
North Africa, consisting of seven countries—Algeria, Egypt, Eritrea, Libya, Morocco, Sudan, and Tunisia—represents the continent’s largest regional power market.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, electricity access has improved, climbing from 38.3% in 2010 to 55% today. However, this progress has been undermined by rapid population growth, which has outpaced electrification efforts, leaving millions still without power.
