Farai Dziva|Troubled power utility ZESA has approached the government seeking permission to effect a threefold increase in tariffs to ZWL$0.81 per kilowatt – from the current ZWL$0.27.

ZESA argues the move will ease load shedding.

The bid for a review comes barely a month after the government increased tariffs to ZWL$0.27 cents per kilowatt hour from ZWL$0.0986 cents, the first time it has done so since 2011.

Meanwhile, South African power utility Eskom says it is not responsible for the power outages being experienced in Zimbabwe, saying it is supplying 400MW to the southern African country as agreed.

After experiencing improved power supply following a power deal with Eskom, Zimbabwe has now been hit by increased load shedding since Friday last week.