Zimbabwe had to rely on emergency power supplies from Eskom on Monday after a near total blackout.

Radio transmission was lost and phone networks went down during the cut.

It comes as Zambia enters its second day without power after a fire gutted a key transformer on the country’s national power grid.

Power was lost from Zambia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe's two main internal suppliers Hwange Power Station and Kariba.

The state Zesa power utility had to fall back on emergency supplies from Eskom.

Zesa's chief executive Ben Rafemoyo assured the nation the cut had nothing to do with the US$57-million Zesa owes its regional suppliers.

Zimbabwe's power cuts have not improved since the new unity government came in in February.

Many Zesa bills are so high customers have stopped paying.

Commentators nicknamed the previous government of President Robert Mugabe the 'Candle Wax Regime' and it seems nothing much has changed.

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