George Maponga in Masvingo
Chivi Rural District Council (RDC) has identified an investor to develop a 50MW solar project in the Kilmanock area near Mashava in a development that continues to push Zimbabwe towards becoming self-sufficient in power.
The local authority has reserved 40ha of land in the Kilmanock area between Mashava and Mhandamabwe where a solar farm will be established.
Chivi RDC chief executive Mr Tariro Matavire said the investor is prepared to meet the cost of compensating some few families who will be displaced by the project.
”The investor (for solar project) is prepared to pay monetary compensation to families who will be displaced or to build them new homesteads and drill boreholes that will supply running water and irrigate small gardens to ensure food security,” he said.
Mr Matavire says everything is now set for the solar power project with the investor having already successfully undertaken an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the game changing project and also struck a deal with power utility, Zesa.


