HARARE – Zimbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Wednesday sacked his energy minister, days after a national blackout during the World Cup that also knocked out power in neighbouring Zambia.

The 10-hour power failure Friday was all the more embarrassing because energy minister Elias Mudzuri had promised the week before to keep the lights on throughout the tournament so Zimbabweans could enjoy the games in South Africa.

Zimbabwe suffers regular blackouts in the best of times, and Tsvangirai did not mention the massive failure at the main Kariba dam power station, saying the change was "to strengthen the performance" of his Movement for Democratic Change.

Tsvangirai said while the government had "recorded definite success in certain areas", Zimbabwe still faced problems which he said "frankly overshadow our successes to date."

Tsvangirai's MDC holds about half the posts in cabinet under a power-sharing deal with long-ruling President Robert Mugabe.

The minister for economic planning Elton Mangoma will take over the energy post, the premier said.

The MDC's former deputy secretary general Tapiwa Mashakada will take the planning job when the changes are made official Thursday, he said.

In the reshuffle, Tsvangirai also sacked housing minister Fidelis Mhashu, a move that appeared aimed at balancing representation for different factions within the party.

Tsvangirai and Mugabe formed a power-sharing government last year aimed at easing tensions in the aftermath of a bloody presidential run-off election in 2008 and reviving the economy.

But the work of the government has been hampered by constant haggling over outstanding issues including the refusal by Mugabe to swear in MDC treasurer Roy Bennett as deputy agriculture minister.

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