In a dramatic turn of events, the Managing Director of the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), Abel Gurupira, has reportedly been fired with immediate effect following an embarrassing power outage that plunged Parliament into darkness during President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) earlier this week.
The unexpected blackout, which occurred right in the middle of the President’s nationally televised address, left both dignitaries and viewers stunned, raising serious questions about reliability and accountability within Zimbabwe’s power utility sector.
According to journalist Hopewell Chin’ono, Energy and Power Development Minister July Moyo wasted no time in responding to the incident, reportedly instructing ZESA Holdings Group CEO, Cletus Nyachowe, to relieve Gurupira of his duties. The decision is said to have been made on the spot, underscoring the gravity of the embarrassment caused by the power interruption during such a critical national event.
Insiders at ZESA confirmed that an internal investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the outage and whether it was a technical fault, procedural negligence, or potential sabotage. Early reports suggest that the power cut may have been linked to a system malfunction at the Harare transmission network, though the official cause has yet to be confirmed.
The incident has reignited debate around ZESA’s operational efficiency, with many Zimbabweans voicing frustration over persistent power cuts, mismanagement, and outdated infrastructure. Critics argue that the embarrassing disruption during a high-profile government event symbolizes deeper systemic issues within the national power grid and calls for urgent reform.
Gurupira’s dismissal marks the latest in a series of high-level shakeups within Zimbabwe’s state-owned enterprises, as the government pushes for improved service delivery and accountability across all sectors.
As the nation awaits the findings of the internal probe, many are hoping that this incident will prompt real, long-term solutions to Zimbabwe’s ongoing power supply challenges — a problem that continues to affect industries, businesses, and households across the country. ⚡🇿🇼
