Zimbabwe is experiencing intensified power outages following the shutdown of Unit 6 at the Hwange Power Station due to a system failure. The development threatens to plunge large parts of the country into darkness.

Unit 6, one of the original thermal generation units commissioned in the 1980s, has an installed capacity of 220 megawatts (MW). Its sudden breakdown has worsened the country’s already fragile electricity supply, which continues to be hampered by persistent load-shedding and ageing infrastructure.

“Hwange Unit 6 has been taken off the grid due to a system failure. The unit will be out of operation for a period of three days and is expected to return to service on October 10,” ZESA said.

During this period, Hwange Power Station will continue to operate with three units in service. ZPC acknowledged the inconvenience caused and expressed appreciation for the public’s patience as efforts are made to restore full generation capacity.

First Lady and Health and Child Care Ambassador, Amai Auxillia Mnangagwa, has extended her blanket donation initiative to health facilities run by the country’s uniformed forces, ensuring that patients under their care also benefit from her ongoing national hospital support programme.

Representatives from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), and Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) received their consignments at Zimbabwe House this week. The donation guarantees that every bed in the health facilities run by the three security institutions will be furnished with two blankets.

Amai Mnangagwa said the gesture was part of her continued efforts to promote patient comfort and improve health service delivery across the country.

“Every patient deserves warmth and comfort. Through this initiative, we are reaffirming our collective commitment to the wellbeing of all Zimbabweans,” she said.

The First Lady’s blanket donation programme has already reached referral hospitals across the country. Institutions such as Victoria Chitepo, Gweru, Chinhoyi, Bindura, Marondera, and Kwekwe General Hospitals have collected their allocations from the National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm) in Harare.

To ease transportation logistics, hospitals in the southern region covering Bulawayo and the Matabeleland provinces are collecting their consignments from NatPharm’s Bulawayo branch.

The initiative is part of Amai Mnangagwa’s broader campaign to enhance healthcare delivery through material support, especially for patients admitted in public institutions.

Her efforts continue to complement government programmes aimed at improving standards in the health sector and ensuring dignified care for all citizens.

Nkulumane Member of Parliament, Honourable Desire Moyo, has tragically died following a road accident that occurred in the early hours of Friday morning.

Confirming the incident, Emakhandeni–Luveve legislator Discent Collins Bajila said the accident took place near Shangani, involving a group of parliamentarians who were travelling together when their vehicle collided with an elephant.

“Good morning colleagues. Honourables Madalaboy Ndebele, Senator Rittah Ndlovu, Sethulo Ndebele, Libion Sibanda and Desire Moyo were involved in an accident just before Shangani.

They hit an elephant. Sadly, Hon. Moyo has been confirmed dead and his family has been notified. The other passengers have been taken to hospital for treatment,” said Hon. Bajila.

Further information about the accident and the condition of the other legislators is expected to be released as investigations continue.