US EditionZimbabwe: Parliament Apologises After Power Outage Interrupts Mnangagwa's SONA
Power outage disrupted President Mnangagwa’s speech in Parliament, amid ongoing national power shortages and debates over whether the cause was deliberate sabotage or natural events.
- On Tuesday, Zimbabwe's Parliament lost power while President Emmerson Mnangagwa wrapped up his State of the Nation Address, and he finished under torchlight.
- ZESA said the outage was an act of nature, blaming thunderstorms and high winds that tripped a 132kv feeder line supplying Mt Hampden; a similar blackout disrupted the national budget presentation in November last year.
- Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda apologised to the president and vowed `chase the culprit`, while Zanu PF loyalists called the outage `pure, unadulterated sabotage` on social media.
- The incident highlighted Zimbabwe's ongoing widespread power shortages that have affected homes, businesses and public institutions, while critics called the repeat outage an absolute disgrace.
- There is debate over whether the power cut was deliberate sabotage or a natural fault, with those alleging deliberate action clashing with those citing natural causes, while officials calling for accountability demand full investigation.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Heads roll at Zimbabwe’s power utility over Mnangagwa Sona blackout – The Mail & Guardian
The Zimbabwe Electricity and Distribution Company suspended its managing director after a power outage in parliament on Tuesday, during which President Emmerson Mnangagwa delivered 10 minutes of his State of the Nation address (Sona) in the dark. Abel Gurupira will go on effective forced leave, the power company said in an internal memo. However, he will enjoy his full benefits and not maintain contact with any of his colleagues until an investi…
Lights out at Zimbabwe's SONA: Mnangagwa finishes speech in darkness
Zimbabwe’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) ended on an awkward note on Tuesday after a power cut plunged Parliament into darkness just as President Emmerson Mnangagwa was wrapping up his speech. Lights out at Zimbabwe’s SONA There is a debate on whether there was a deliberate act by individuals to disturb the Zimbabwe’s SONA or it was a natural cause. Many Zanu PF loyalists took to social media to vent their frustrations about the development…
On 28 October 2025, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa delivered his annual State of the Nation Address (SONA) speech to Parliament, a solemn moment to present government directions and priorities. But in the middle of his speech, a power cut plunged the room into darkness. Without leaving his calm, the head of state continued reading his speech in the light of a torch held by a camp aide.
He Will Regret The Day He Was Born: Zim Parly Speaker Vows Revenge After Power Cut Off During President Mnangagwa’s SONA Speech
Mnangagwa Reads SONA In Darkness As Power Goes Off In ParliamentThe Speaker of Parliament of Zimbabwe, Jacob Mudenda, has issued a fiery threat, vowing that the person responsible for switching off the electricity during President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s State of the Nation Address will “regret the day he was born.” The dramatic statement was made to […] The post He Will Regret The Day He Was Born: Zim Parly Speaker Vows Revenge After Power Cut Off…
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