ZESCO’S 0.2-SECOND POWER CUT: THE REAL STORY IS THE LIGHTING SYSTEM By Staff Reporter ZESCO says the power disturbance during the Zambia–Togo match at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium lasted just 0.2 seconds. But that tiny interruption exposed a much bigger problem.According to ZESCO, the stadium’s floodlights are designed in such a way that after any power […]

ZESCO’S 0.2-SECOND POWER CUT: THE REAL STORY IS THE LIGHTING SYSTEM

By Staff Reporter

ZESCO says the power disturbance during the Zambia–Togo match at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium lasted just 0.2 seconds.

But that tiny interruption exposed a much bigger problem.
According to ZESCO, the stadium’s floodlights are designed in such a way that after any power interruption, they can take approximately 20 minutes to regain full brightness.

That means the issue was not necessarily the duration of the power disturbance, but the vulnerability of the stadium’s lighting system to even a momentary interruption.

ZESCO says it will engage the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Arts to explore redesigning the lighting system to minimise similar disruptions during future matches.

It is a useful intervention, but it also raises a simple question: Why was the lighting system designed without adequate protection against momentary power interruptions in the first place?
For a stadium hosting international football, lighting reliability is not a luxury. It is part of match-day infrastructure.

The incident should therefore be treated as an opportunity to examine the entire system — from power supply and backup arrangements to the floodlight technology itself.
The Chipolopolo may have won the match, but the blackout has certainly started another conversation.