Zimbabwe is to cut electricity supplies to some residential areas for up to 20 hours a day in the coming months to meet higher demand from farmers amid persistent food shortages.
A government statement said priority would be given to wheat farmers, who need power for irrigation, while domestic use would be restricted to four hours a day.
The announcement did not say when the power cuts would start, but they are expected to last until September when demand is no longer at its peak.
The statement said power would remain on between 5pm and 9pm "to allow the domestic sector to carry out their normal household chores".
Zimbabwe has already been experiencing frequent power cuts due to its ageing power plants, which have received very little new investment as the country battles an economic crisis.
Other municipal services have suffered and several Harare suburbs have also endured lengthy periods without water, some dry for as long as three weeks.
'No blackout'
Zimbabwe's economic crisis is highlighted by a 2,200 per cent rate of inflation - the highest the world.
Officials, however, played down the impact of the cuts.
Ben Rafemoyo, of the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority, said: "Some selected areas will not have electricity between 6am and about noon, but if the worst comes to worst there might not be power to these areas until around 5pm. This is not a blanket blackout."
Policies criticised
The cuts are intended to spare urban business districts, but many shops and businesses in residential areas may still feel the impact.
Industry has also been hurt by the cuts, which have hit production and contributed to an economic crisis widely blamed on the policies of Robert Mugae, the president, who ordered the seizure of white-owned commercial farms to resettle black Zimbabweans.
Mugabe, however, denies mismanaging the economy and blames Western sanctions.