Zimbabwe braces for another electricity tariff hike

Ndaka Majaka

ZESA Holdings says it may review electricity tariffs upwards next
month, after obtaining cabinet approval to effect hikes in line with the rate of inflation and the prevailing interbank exchange rate.

This comes as the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority last week
approved a 320 percent electricity tariff increase to 162,16 cents per kilowatt hour to help Zesa improve power supply.

Acting Zesa Chief Executive, Engineer Patrick Chivaura told ZTN that cabinet had approved the new tariffs.

“We recently got cabinet approval to effect increases in the event of changes in the exchange rate and inflation,” he said.

Zera increased tariffs by up to 400 percent in August to improve electricity
supply, but load shedding continues as Zimbabwe battles power outages blamed on drought and biting foreign currency shortages.