The Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) is engaged in extensive and continuous efforts to restore electricity supply across the nation following significant disruptions caused by separate incidents at the critical Hwange Power Station and the Highfield Substation in Harare.
Teams of engineers and technicians have been deployed nationwide, working around the clock in a coordinated endeavour to stabilize the power grid and bring much-needed relief to affected communities and industries.
The nation’s power supply was severely impacted on Sunday, May 4, 2025, by two major incidents that simultaneously struck key power infrastructure. The first critical event occurred at Hwange Power Station, the country’s largest thermal power generation facility, which experienced the sudden loss of Unit 2 due to a significant boiler tube leak.
Concurrently, engineers detected abnormal water chemistry within the Hwange system, indicating acidic contamination originating from the water treatment plant. Swift action was taken by ZPC teams to isolate the affected systems and thoroughly flush out the contaminants, successfully stabilizing the water supply to support ongoing plant operations.
Despite this significant setback at the primary power generation hub, ZPC engineers immediately commenced repair work on the damaged units. The power company emphasized the critical role of Hwange Power Station within the national grid and assured the public of their personnel’s relentless efforts to restore it to its full generating capacity.
Adding to the power supply challenges, a fire erupted at the Highfield Substation in Harare on Sunday evening, causing significant damage to a 20MVA transformer, key circuit breakers, current transformers, and essential control cables. This incident resulted in widespread power outages affecting numerous areas in Harare, including Southerton, Workington, Willowvale, Highfield, Glen Norah, and parts of Mbare. Undeterred by this second major disruption, ZPC and ZETDC (Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company) teams immediately launched emergency response operations to mitigate the impact and expedite restoration.
ZETDC has informed its customers in the southern parts of Harare about the ongoing power supply interruptions due to the Highfield Substation fire and has assured them that temporary measures are in place to minimize the impact. The government, through Minister Moyo, has acknowledged the technical faults at both Hwange Power Station and the Harare substation, assuring the nation that teams are on the ground working diligently to rectify the issues within the week.
The Minister emphasized the need for continued investment in power generation facilities, supply chains, transmission lines, and distribution networks, many of which have become outdated.
ZPC has reiterated its unwavering commitment to ensuring a reliable power supply for all Zimbabweans, acknowledging the frustration caused by these recent disruptions and assuring the public that their dedicated teams are working tirelessly, sparing no resources or time, to restore power safely and efficiently. The company emphasized that these challenging events have also highlighted the resilience and unwavering commitment of its technical workforce.