HARARE-(MaraviPost)-Zimbabweans were left in disbelief on Tuesday night when President Emerson Mnangagwa’s highly anticipated national address was dramatically interrupted by a sudden power outage, live on national television.

The blackout, which struck just minutes after the president began his speech, forced him to continue reading his notes using a flashlight an image that instantly went viral.

The national address, broadcast from State House in Harare, was meant to highlight the government’s achievements and outline economic recovery strategies.

However, the event took an unexpected turn when the lights suddenly went out, leaving the room in complete darkness.

For a few tense seconds, the television feed showed confusion among journalists and officials as technicians scrambled to restore power.

In a rare display of calm, President Mnangagwa decided not to stop the address. Instead, he continued speaking with the aid of a small flashlight held by one of his aides.

The moment drew mixed reactions from viewers with some commending his composure while others mocked the irony of the situation, given the country’s long-standing electricity challenges.

Social media platforms lit up almost instantly, with hashtags like #Zativuta, #PowerToThePeople, and #MnangagwaInTheDark trending across X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook.

Memes, edited videos and humorous captions flooded timelines, turning what was meant to be a serious state address into a national talking point.

Critics quickly pointed out that the incident reflected the deep rooted infrastructure issues that Zimbabwe continues to face.

Frequent power outages, known locally as load shedding, have disrupted industries, hospitals and schools for years and the president’s experience only added fuel to public frustration.

“This is the perfect summary of our situation.Even the highest office in the land cannot escape the darkness we live in every day. Zativuta kwambili (we are in real trouble),”said Tafadzwa Moyo concerned citizen from Zibambwe.

Meanwhile, the state-owned power company, ZESA Holdings, has remained silent on the cause of the outage.

Sources within the energy sector hinted that the blackout may have been triggered by a technical fault affecting parts of Harare, though investigations are still underway.

Opposition figures seized the opportunity to criticize the government’s handling of the energy crisis.

Nelson Chamisa, a prominent opposition leader, remarked online that the blackout was “a powerful metaphor for a nation in the dark both literally and politically.”

His comment received thousands of shares within hours.

Despite the setback, Mnangagwa eventually concluded his address under dim lighting, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to stabilizing the economy and improving essential services.

However, many citizens felt that the incident itself spoke louder than the promises made in the speech.

The Maravi Post