During Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube’s budget presentation, Zimbabwe’s parliament suffered an unplanned power outage, attributed to a lightning strike according to Zesa. The blackout left key officials in darkness as Ncube conveyed grim news regarding the agricultural sector due to drought but projected potential economic growth with improved rainfall next year.
During a recent budget speech by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube, Zimbabwe’s parliament experienced an unexpected power outage that left officials including President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga in darkness. According to George Manyaya, a spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa), the blackout was unplanned and was caused by a lightning strike, despite parliament having a dedicated electricity supply usually exempt from cutting. Ncube had just announced a projected contraction of 15% in the agricultural sector due to drought conditions but optimistic growth forecasts of 6% in the upcoming year, predicated on anticipated better rainfall and improved electricity supplies.
Zimbabwe has been grappling with severe energy supply issues, exacerbated by a prolonged drought that has significantly reduced the output of the Kariba Dam, the primary source of electricity for the nation. Citizens have been facing daily power interruptions, with reports of blackouts lasting up to twelve hours. Frequent outages have raised concerns regarding the stability and reliability of public services, including critical government functions such as parliamentary sessions, particularly during high-profile events like budget speeches.
In conclusion, the power cut during Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube’s budget speech underscores the dire energy crisis in Zimbabwe, which is the result of extended drought affecting hydroelectric power generation. While the unplanned blackout disrupted proceedings, the Minister’s forecast for economic growth and improved rainfall offers a glimpse of hope for recovery. However, the immediate infrastructural challenges must be addressed to prevent recurrence of such incidents in the future.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
