Zimbabwe has promised to suspend its regular program of power cuts to enable football fans to enjoy uninterrupted coverage of the football World Cup in neighbouring South Africa.

"Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) is working to ensure equitable distribution of the limited power available to consumers to enable them to watch the World Cup," said Energy and Power Development Minister Elias Mudzuri on Wednesday.

"I have directed ZESA to suspend disconnections to allow the public to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," he told reporters.

Zimbabwe's power utility is battling to meet local power needs and frequently cuts off power in certain neighbourhoods for up to 10 hours to save electricity, a process known as load-shedding.

Mudzuri said ensuring uninterrupted supplies during the World Cup was no easy task for the country's power-sharing government.

"The ministry is in a difficult situation in managing the limited power available to consumers to enable them to watch the World Cup," he said, adding that the load-shedding would return after the month-long football tournament.

Zimbabwe has been trying to lure investors to overhaul its power sector but there has been little interest since the introduction of equity laws to give locals majority stakes in foreign-owned corporations.

Mudzuri said Zimbabwe requires 2,200 megawatts of electricity every month but can only produce 1,100 megawatts, importing the remainder.

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