A video of Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema boasting last month that his government had ended electricity blackouts, is being widely shared on WhatsApp two days after the country’s power utility firm announced indefinite power cuts of up to 12 hours a day. On Wednesday Zambia’s power utility - Zesco - attributed the drop in electricity supply to low water levels in the Kariba dam, which the country relies on for hydropower. It also said routine maintenance works on a coal plant that feeds into the power grid was also contributing to the situation. The public outcry has forced Mr Hichilema to change tune. “We have said it before and we will say it again; we will spend most of this year unlocking domestic rigidities that affect economic growth,” Mr Hichilema said.

Source: News 24 January 08, 2023 04:44 UTC