Ceteris Paribus… wait, before you think I am getting too much even before I begin. Listen, I didn’t think this up on my own. Later I will show you the culprit and encourage you to scowl in that direction.
Goodbye Winter, Hello Loadshedding
By the looks of it, it’s goodbye winter! The mercury has been rising nicely, and heaters are burning less than they did last week. If we are lucky, after this Saturday’s showers, we may even begin to see the return of skirts, fresh legs, and life returning to normal. Touch wood!
But from 1 June to 31 August 2025, the reality has been the “Pheka Fast” regime — a new way of living shaped by load shedding. Those who cannot cook quickly risk empty stomachs and frayed tempers in households tested by power cuts.
Life in the Dark
Until June, loadshedding was unheard of in Eswatini. But on the morning of June 1, kettles, stoves and lights all refused to work. The frustration of dark mornings and powerless evenings soon became part of daily life.
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By July, households had learnt to consult the EEC schedule, and by August, routines adjusted to “Pheka Fast.”
Yet, the silver lining: EEC has hinted that from 31 August 2025, load shedding will pause — at least until June 2026.
Engineers Run the World
In a recent EEC presentation, engineers outlined the country’s path forward. They face pressure: citizens complain of high tariffs, politicians slash costs, and the resulting budget gaps fuel more load shedding.
Eswatini is not alone. Neighbouring countries like South Africa, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Zambia suffer even longer outages. Still, the kingdom cannot continue depending on others for power.
A Silver Lining: Power Export Dreams
Behind the scenes, engineers have been working on solutions. Soon, Eswatini could move from importer to electricity exporter, wheeling power into the Southern Africa Power Pool (SAPP).
Plans include:
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Thermal power station at Lubhuku (300 MW).
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Geothermal drilling, with seven wells producing 40–80 MW each (minimum 500 MW).
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Since Eswatini only needs 210 MW, the excess 600 MW could be exported, generating foreign currency revenues.
The big question remains: Even when Eswatini produces its own power, will electricity prices go down? Experts say—unlikely.
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