FOR years, power supply has stood as one of the biggest obstacles to economic recovery. Daily power cuts lasting 16 hours or more became part of everyday life, disrupting production, inflating operating costs and undermining investor confidence.
Against this backdrop, the marked improvement in electricity supply over recent months is a significant and welcome development.
National power utility Zesa Holdings this week said Zimbabwe has gone for more than 138 days with minimal or no load shedding. It aims to eliminate power cuts beyond 2026. Group chief executive officer Cletus Nyachowe told parliamentarians that reforms underway are designed to turn the utility into a commercially viable enterprise while adding significant generation capacity.
A substantial portion of the credit belongs to the Mutapa Investment Fund (MIF), which has brought greater accountability and urgency to the management of state-owned enterprises under its oversight. Since Zesa was placed under MIF, there has been a noticeable shift in focus. Long-delayed projects are moving forward, while management appears more committed to operational performance and service delivery. This underscores what can be achieved when public institutions are subjected to stronger governance and clearer performance targets.
However, it would be inaccurate to attribute the improvement solely to institutional reform.
Nature has also played an important role. Favourable rains received during the 2025/2026 agricultural season boosted water levels at Kariba South Hydroelectric Power Station, enabling higher generation after years of drought-induced constraints. Yet hydropower remains vulnerable to weather conditions.
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In addition, thousands of businesses and households have invested in solar energy systems. This shift has reduced demand on the national grid and eased pressure on Zesa during peak periods.
These factors should temper any temptation to declare victory too soon. Zimbabwe has experienced temporary improvements before, only for supply problems to resurface when ageing equipment fails, thermal power stations underperform, or water allocations at Kariba are reduced. To sustain the current momentum, Zesa must continue investing in generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure, while strengthening maintenance programmes and improving financial discipline.
The recent gains should therefore be welcomed, but viewed with measured optimism. MIF deserves recognition for restoring focus and accountability at Zesa. Good rains have increased hydropower output, while private investment in solar energy has reduced demand on the grid. Together, these developments have given Zimbabwe a glimpse of what reliable electricity can do for economic growth and productivity.
The challenge now is to convert this encouraging progress into a durable and resilient power system capable of keeping the lights on long after the rains have passed.