Zimbabwe's Parliament experienced an unexpected power cut during Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube's critical budget speech, as President Emmerson Mnangagwa and other officials were present. The incident occurred late in the address, plunging the room into darkness and prompting opposition MPs to voice their concerns that the blackout symbolized the nation’s dire situation. Zimbabwe is grappling with severe 12-hour daily power outages primarily caused by drought conditions impacting the Kariba Dam, the nation's leading power generator.
Zimbabwe's Parliament Left in Darkness Amid Budget Speech Chaos
Zimbabwe's Parliament Left in Darkness Amid Budget Speech Chaos
A sudden power outage disrupted Zimbabwe's parliamentary budget proceedings, highlighting the ongoing energy crisis.
George Manyaya, spokesperson for the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa), claimed the blackout was unintentional, attributing it to a lightning strike despite Parliament generally having a dedicated power source. Before the unexpected outage, Ncube addressed the anticipated contraction of the agricultural sector by 15% this year due to drought complications but expressed optimism for a 6% economic growth in the following year, given the forecast of improved rainfall that could enhance electricity supplies.
