By Staff Reporter
HARARE — Security has been intensified at the new Parliament Building ahead of Thursday’s 2026 National Budget presentation, following a series of power disturbances that have disrupted key national events in recent months.
The heightened measures come after three consecutive sittings attended by President Emmerson Mnangagwa were affected by power surges.
During the most recent incident, the President was forced to complete his State of the Nation Address using a lantern after electricity failed due to an electrical fault an episode that sparked public ridicule and political embarrassment.
As part of the preparations for the Budget presentation, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) has reportedly been instructed to set up its equipment four days prior to the event to avoid technical glitches experienced previously.
A senior Parliament insider said the latest steps were meant to “avoid any repeat of the embarrassment” that contributed to the dismissal of ZETDC executive Abel Gurupira earlier this year, after Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda warned that “heads would roll” over the power failure.
Supporting the renewed caution, Parliament issued a communique on 20 November 2025, notifying Members and staff of major maintenance works on the building’s electricity grid.
The works, carried out on 22 and 23 November, were expected to cause “substantial power outages within and around the premises.”
The communique urged Members, staff, and visitors to “refrain from using elevators and observe all necessary safety precautions” during the maintenance period.
The combination of maintenance upgrades, tightened security, and early technical setups reflects Parliament’s attempts to ensure a smooth and incident-free Budget presentation on Thursday.
