Sustainability of Coping Strategies Among Electricity Dependent SMEs during Load Shedding: Evidence from Welding Enterprises in Lusaka, Zambia

Mercy M. Alisinda and Chisumbe Sampa
Additional contact information
Mercy M. Alisinda: The University of Zambia
Chisumbe Sampa: Copperbelt University

African Journal of Commercial Studies, 2026, vol. 7, issue 3

Abstract: Load shedding has become a persistent constraint on the operational sustainability of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Garden, Zambia. This study examines the sustainability of coping strategies adopted by welding SMEs in Garden Compound, Lusaka, an electricity-intensive sector highly vulnerable to power disruptions. A mixed methods approach was employed, combining survey data from 107 SME operators with 25 in-depth interviews. The findings indicate that 90.5% of respondents experience daily power outages lasting between 2 and 8 hours, resulting in reduced productivity, customer loss, and declined revenues. To mitigate these effects, SMEs primarily rely on diesel and petrol generators, alongside adaptive measures such as flexible working hours and manual production methods. However, these strategies were found to be financially unsustainable due to high operational costs. The study concludes that existing coping mechanisms are largely short-term survival responses rather than long-term solutions. It recommends targeted policy interventions, improved electricity infrastructure, and access to affordable financing to enable SMEs to adopt sustainable energy alternatives such as solar power systems.

Keywords: Load Shedding; SMEs; Welding Enterprises; Coping Strategies; Sustainability; Zambia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L26 M21 O55 Q41 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://ijcsacademia.com/index.php/journal/article/view/569

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:cwk:ajocsk:2026-96

DOI: 10.59413/ajocs/v7.i3.26

Access Statistics for this article

More articles in African Journal of Commercial Studies from African Journal of Commercial Studies
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Dr. Charles G. Kamau ().