A survey in some of Harare's poor suburbs revealed that more and more residents have imported charcoal stoves from as far as Zambia while better off Zimbabweans use anything from gas, generators and paraffin.

But gas, fuel and paraffin are largely available on the black market at exhorbitant prices.

This is because firewood is relatively expensive compared to charcoal.

Most families said charcoal stoves are reasonably cheap because charcoal burns longer and can be recycled over and over again.

All this comes at a time residents are going for over 20 hours or longer without electricity in some areas.

Zimbabwe imports energy from neighbouring countries but the electricity is only made available if the exporting countries have surplus energy.

Zimbabwe claims its energy imports constitute about 35% of the country's national requirements but experts say imports actually account for 60% of nation's needs.

Power utility ZESA is optimistic that reconstruction work at one of Hwange Thermal Power Station's units signed with Namibia's NamPower will help augment the country's energy output while an increase in coal supplies from Hwange Colliery Limited will help lift electricity production.

Currently Hwange Thermal Power Station is producing 250 MW a month owing to increased coal supplies but the plant can produce up to 1 000 MW if fully operational.

A bundle of firewood costs Z$500 000 and only cooks a single meal.

In fact many believe that electricity is grossly under-priced.

The troubled country is facing its worst economic crisis charecterised by high inflation now close to 8 000%.

Zimbabwe, which depends on electricity imports, pays more than US$12m per month for its energy requirements from neighbouring countries like South Africa, Zambia, Mozambique and the Democratic republic of Congo (DRC).

- Fin24