What happened when the lights went out!

Power shortages, emergency measures, plain theft, and another reason why it's good to be King. Or President.

It was a normal evening in State House, Harare. The air conditioning hummed gently. The freezers tended their stock of luxury food items. The lights burned with a soft and enticing glow. The red eye of the dvd player glowed in readiness. President Robert Mugabe was enjoying the life of luxury to which he has become accustomed.

And then, in a blink, it all stopped. The lights went out. The tv went blank. The steaks on the cooker stopped sizzling. Yes, the unthinkable had happened. The President's home had suffered a power failure.

Now this sort of thing may happened to you and me - in fact it does on a daily basis - but it doesn't happen to Zim1. And what happened next is a vivid example of the gulf that widens daily between him, our leader, and us, his people.

"The old man was very mad," my State House source told me. "He soon discovered that the transformer, which supplies power to the official residence, had blown up. And the generators, which are on stand-by for such an event, were out of fuel. He thought it was sabotage."

It wasn't sabotage. It was just life in Zimbabwe today, from which Mugabe is normally insulated. And sadly the experience didn't last long. Mugabe immediately sent for two top men - Energy Minister Mike Nyambuya, and the boss of the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA), Ben Rafemoyo.

While these two trembled in their shoes, Mugabe told them they were a disgrace, and must supply a new transformer AT ONCE. Poor Ben was forced to admit he didn't have one. Financial reasons. A transformer costs $450bn to buy, which is about $450bn more than ZESA has in its pocket.

But you don't get to ruin - sorry, I mean run - a country like Zimbabwe by accepting excuses like that. Ben and Mike were driven from State House with instructions do something, pretty damn quick.

And to their credit, that's what they did. They and their teams drove some five kilometres away to the suburb of Avondale. It has a transformer supplying it with power. Or rather, it did. It is no longer there. Instead it sits in place of the faulty State House transformer. State House has power again. Avondale is dark.

Like I said at the beginning - it's good to be President.

Comments

[Ken]

Zimbabwean are too docile to act upon man of such vices. I await a day some president' ass will be kicked where it is soft and most painful. Vote wisely my Afgrican brothers.

[John Philip Magetsi]

This is what we mean by the saying power to the paople. Mugabe is the people so he must have all the power to himself, I mean ZESA power.

[John Philip Magetsi]

This is what we mean by the saying power to the paople. Mugabe is the people so he must have all the power to himself, I mean ZESA power.

[sox]

Dear Zimbabwe,

I cry for you everyday. I am so disappointed that you are not fighting back like a man. As my love you have disappointed me dear Zimbabwe. Wake up and fight.

Sox

[LIMPALA]

I discovered Zimbabwe in 1980, lived there in heaven state for 2 years and admired Mugabe for the way he run the new country, without any anger or hate against the whites, and the country was beautiful and prosperous. I went back in 2001 and saw a country on the way down the hill, after they chased the white farmers who were bringing wealth to this country.. and since, what a shock... Mugabe has become completely mad, supposed to be since the death of his previous wife Janet, and his new marriage... Anyway, he is the only one to be blamed, if he is not totally insane.. But Zimbabweans, too nice, obedient and now too miserable, should raise and fight against !! Each country which has faced revolution had dead people, but now, with the strength of international media, the fighters will be helped... "African have liberate Zimbabwe", but they must do it again, from their own old man, previously genious, and now an almost insane man.... So shocking !!!
Long life to Zimbawe, one of the most beautiful country I have been visiting and living (and I know a lot !!) !! Hurry up Zimbabweans, to save your country and your lives or at least the one of your children !

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Er,Limpala, Janet was Ian Smith's wife, not Mugabe's.

[A group of people are looking for you, Also said to catch you will give you a call of wealth, And they call a smooth, Leading that happiness! I had asked trouble, It didn't love you forever, Also say to ignore you, Let me tell you not done oneself amorous]

A group of people are looking for you, Also said to catch you will give you a call of wealth, And they call a smooth, Leading that happiness! I had asked trouble, It didn't love you forever, Also say to ignore you, Let me tell you not done oneself amorous! Let me have healthy love letters to you, It is like you for a long time and life.

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