Zimbabwe registered a strong rebound in electricity generation in the second quarter of 2025, with official data pointing to both quarterly and annual growth.
According to the latest Index of Electricity Generation released by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat), output for the quarter under review rose to 114.6 points, an 18.2 percent jump from 97.0 recorded in the first quarter of the year. The figures also reflect an 11.7 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024.
The surge in output was largely anchored by Hwange Power Station, which contributed 1,945.6 gigawatt hours (GWh), representing more than two-thirds of the country’s total generation. Kariba Power Station followed with 786.4GWh (27.5 percent), while Independent Power Producers supplied 4.4 percent.
ZimStat explained that the index, compiled using the Laspeyres method with 2019 as the base year, complies with international standards set under the UN’s Index of Industrial Production guidelines.
Despite the higher domestic generation, electricity imports remained significant though slightly reduced. Zimbabwe brought in 261.7GWh of power during the second quarter, down 14.3 percent from the 305.5GWh imported in the first quarter. Almost half of these imports came from Mozambique’s Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa (HCB), while the Southern African Power Pool’s DAM and Mozambique’s EDM supplied 22 percent and 12 percent, respectively.
On the other hand, electricity exports slowed. The country exported 266.7GWh between April and June, representing a 24.6 percent decline from the 353.6GWh recorded in the previous quarter. Most of the exported power went to Zambia’s Copperbelt Energy Corporation (150.1GWh) and Namibia’s NamPower (47.5GWh).
Electricity distribution within Zimbabwe also recorded growth, with 2,150.7GWh supplied locally during the quarter, up 10.9 percent from 1,938.5GWh in the first quarter.
The largest consumers were the manufacturing, transport, and construction sectors, which together used 683.4GWh (31.8 percent). Mining and quarrying followed closely with 478.7GWh (22.3 percent), while households consumed 445.8GWh (20.7 percent).
ZimStat said the data was compiled using information obtained from the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA).
