Former Energy and Power Development Minister, Fortune Chasi, has expressed his willingness to serve Zimbabwe again amidst mounting calls for his reappointment to address the nation’s escalating power crisis.
The plea for his return comes at a time when Zimbabwe grapples with severe electricity shortages, exacerbated by falling water levels at Lake Kariba, aging infrastructure at Hwange Thermal Power Station, and frequent system failures.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) this Monday, Chasi acknowledged the public’s confidence in his leadership abilities. He wrote:
“I can’t pretend that I am not seeing your ‘demands’ to go back to my former job. I do not take your confidence in me lightly. I encounter it daily and everywhere. As I have said before, serving one’s country is a duty we must all be ready [for]. I am!”
A Nation in Darkness
The renewed interest in Chasi’s leadership follows a nationwide blackout over the weekend. The power utility, ZESA Holdings, attributed the outage to a “system disturbance.” Amid growing frustrations, Chasi’s track record as a decisive and reform-oriented minister has reignited public demand for his reinstatement.
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However, Chasi’s expression of readiness has been met with criticism from some quarters. A ZANU PF-aligned X account, ZANU PF Patriots, dismissed his remarks as “political grandstanding.” The account reminded Chasi that appointments rest solely with President Emmerson Mnangagwa and criticized opposition supporters for fueling the calls for his return.
“No to political grandstanding… May we remind you that only the President is mandated to appoint any deserving citizen to be a Minister. Opposition supporters calling for your reinstatement have no power to reinstate you. Your response to them thus is political grandstanding,” the post read.
The Fallout and Legacy of Chasi’s Tenure
Chasi was dismissed from his ministerial post in August 2020, with the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Misheck Sibanda, citing conduct “incompatible with the president’s expectations.” Chasi was replaced by Soda Zhemu, MP for Muzarabani North.
Reports later emerged suggesting that Chasi’s dismissal was linked to his efforts to disrupt the dominance of powerful fuel cartels in the energy sector. His moves to balance competition in the fuel market and revive plans for a second fuel pipeline reportedly antagonized influential players.
A Ministry of Energy official, speaking anonymously to The Zimbabwe Independent, revealed that Chasi’s stance against monopolistic practices in the fuel sector, particularly those benefiting Sakunda Holdings, played a significant role in his ousting.
“At NOIC, Chasi was trying to even out the playing field in the fuel sector by ensuring that Sakunda Holdings will not continue to enjoy the monopolistic utilization of the pipeline while also trying to fully assert NOIC’s control. Sadly, this unsettled the interests of powerful fuel cartels,” the official said.
The same source highlighted Chasi’s ambitious plans to diversify the energy landscape, noting, “He was trying to do many things right at the same time. He could not have prevailed over the combined efforts by the ethanol blending and fuel cartels.”
The Current Landscape
The current Energy and Power Development Minister, Edgar Moyo, previously served as Deputy Minister for Primary and Secondary Education, raising questions about his expertise in navigating the complexities of Zimbabwe’s energy sector. Under his leadership, the nation continues to endure crippling blackouts that have disrupted industry, commerce, and daily life.
Public Sentiment
The outpouring of support for Chasi reflects growing public discontent with the current handling of Zimbabwe’s energy crisis. Many citizens see his prior tenure as a period of promise and believe his return could help restore stability and introduce much-needed reforms.
Whether President Mnangagwa will heed these calls remains to be seen. However, Chasi’s readiness to serve and his proven willingness to challenge entrenched interests offer a glimmer of hope for those yearning for change in Zimbabwe’s energy sector.
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