POWERLESS: ZIMBABWE’S ELECTRICITY CRISIS AND THE SHADOW OF MISGOVERNANCE
ln Zimbabwe, the fading lights are not just a symbol of power cuts but also of a deeper malaise that afflicts our governance. Last year, the authorities responsible for electricity supply attributed the extensive power outages to the low water levels in Lake Kariba, a reservoir ironically created during the colonial era they claim to have liberated us from. This excuse, however, falls flat in the face of the recently concluded 2022-2023 rainy season, pointing to a more profound crisis.
This situation highlights a tragic reality: the widespread ignorance among the rural electorate, many living in modest homes of dagga and pole, about the root causes of these power outages. These outages are not just inconveniences; they are a direct blow to our industries, the very backbone of our economy, affecting everyone, electrified homes or not.
The culprit behind this crisis is the ruling party, ZANU-PF, characterized by its tyrannical, authoritarian, and illegitimate nature. This party, known for its parasitic and pestilential behavior, is guilty of plundering resources while blatantly violating and debasing the supreme law of the land. Their neglect of the welfare of the people has led to misery and abject poverty, exacerbated by the lack of prompt, affordable, and reliable service delivery.
Imagine a typical rural family, with no electricity at home, relying on food aid that is often distributed along partisan lines. In this family is a young pregnant woman, in need of medical care. When her time comes, possibly prematurely, the absence of electricity means there is no power to run an incubator, a matter of life and death for her newborn. This scenario is not just a hypothetical tragedy; it’s a reality for many Zimbabweans.
The ruling party’s mismanagement extends beyond the energy sector. It seeps into the very core of our civil liberties. The people, according to our constitution, have the right to choose their government, a government that should represent and secure their interests, rights, and freedoms. Yet, these rights are being trampled upon by a militarized, partisan, and inept electoral commission. This body, compromised and captured, is sympathetic to ZANU-PF’s aspirations for a one-party state—a state that, if this continues, will be shrouded in literal and metaphorical darkness.
As we inch closer to another election, the fear looms that if the current regime continues to rig the system, the future of our electricity supply, and indeed our country, hangs in the balance. We might as well brace ourselves for a return to the dark ages, where the light of democracy is extinguished, and the people’s voice is silenced.
This crisis is not just about electricity; it’s about the very essence of governance and the right of a people to a life of dignity and progress. As we face these prolonged power cuts, let us remember that we are also fighting for the power to shape our destiny, to bring back the light that once shone brightly in our beloved Zimbabwe.
