Zambia will start power cuts from Thursday December 15, which are expected to last six hours at a stretch.
Energy minister, Peter Kapala, told the Zambian Parliament that it may only affect residential areas.
Zimbabwe, on the other hand, is already facing 19 hours load shedding daily with devastating effects on all aspects of life in the country. Electricity is turned back on between approximately midnight and 5 AM.
Hospitals are sometimes left without water because pumps are inoperative.
Small businesses have been badly hit as many have been forced to close their shops because the depend on electricity to run them.