The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company has decided to cut off power supply to the population for 12 hours a day, as large-scale power plants are unable to produce enough energy to meet the country's energy deficit.

A statement from the institution said that two major power plants are not operating optimally, leading Zimbabwe to resort to imported energy, and, according to Energy Minister Soda Zhemu, the country is in negotiations with Mozambique, which is expected to supply an additional 180MW, and Zambia, which is expected to supply another 100MW. These two countries currently supply about 170 MW of electricity.

The additional electricity will help fill the power deficit that causes frequent blackouts and which are due, in part, to rehabilitation work at the Kariba hydroelectric plant, as well as production constraints at the Hwange plant and limited electricity imports.

Zimbabwe currently produces a total of 1,276 MW and demand is 1,700 MW. According to World Bank data in 2019, the percentage of the population with access to electricity in Zimbabwe, was 41.1%.