Drought-hit Zambia to extend power cuts to 17 hours a day

A family walks home after collecting food from a distribution organized by the World Food Program and World Vision in Simumbwe, Zambia, Jan. 22, 2020. [AFP]

Zambia is bracing for electricity cuts of 17 hours a day from next month as a prolonged drought dries up its hydropower dams, undermining economic activity and putting jobs at risk.

Since the southern African country declared a national disaster in February because of the drought, it has been scaling back its power supply and importing electricity from neighbouring countries.