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

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.