Zimbabwe to suffer 20-hour daily power cuts

HARARE, May 9 (Reuters) Zimbabwe's government announced 20-hour daily electricity cuts for households across the country today as supplies are shifted to irrigate the crucial winter wheat crop amid persistent food shortages.

The southern African country has already been experiencing frequent power cuts due to the declining capacity of its aging power plants which have seen very little new investment as the country battles severe foreign currency shortages.

Mines and factories have also been hit hard by regular power outages, which have caused a decline in production and contributed to an economic crisis and escalating political tensions over President Robert Mugabe's 27-year rule.

Up to 2 billion dollar is required to install new equipment and expand production at the country's two main power plants in Hwange and Kariba to meet increased industrial and domestic demand, officials say.

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