Chronicle Editor
Fairness Moyana in Hwange
THE Zimbabwe Power Company is in the process of drawing up model houses for 80 households that will be relocated as a result of the Stage 7 and 8 expansion project in Hwange.
The 80 affected families are those that are living along the corridor of the 310km Hwange-Bulawayo power transmission lines, which are under construction. Under the country’s safety regulations, the construction of settlements within 30-60 metres near a power line is not allowed as it exposes the inhabitants to electromagnetic radiation which can be lethal to humans.
As a result of the US$1,4 billion project being undertaken by Chinese contractor, Synohydro Corporation which will add 600MW into the national grid, the massive investment will displace 80 households along the corridor with the company pledging to build new homes as well as compensate the families.
Briefing the Minister of State for Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Cde Richard Moyo, last Tuesday during a tour of the station, project site manager, Engineer Forbes Chanakira said construction of the houses was set to start at the end of the month.
“There are around 80 households that are going to be displaced by the construction of the power line. We have engaged them and we have already done models of houses for them so at the end of this month our contractors will be on the ground constructing new houses, so once those houses are completed, they will move to the new place and we demolish the old houses. We will further compensate them for their trees, gardens, kraals and so forth. There are about 80 households along the whole corridor. We have not yet established the exact cost but we estimate it to be around US$2,5m,” said Eng Chanakira.
With clearing complete, the construction of relay room, central control building, switching yard and erection of towers as well as gantry for power lines is at an advanced stage. The project is envisaged to transform the country’s economy as it forges ahead with attaining a middle-income economy by 2030 as it will see the current power deficit being addressed. Zimbabwe requires a peak demand of 2 200MW.
Eng Chanakira said a further 400 households living at a suburb next to the existing Hwange power station will also require evacuation at an estimated cost of US$60m to avoid increased air pollution once the units come online.
“The Environmental Management Agency (Ema) has put a requirement that Ingagula settlement which is next to existing Hwange Power Station should be relocated before commissioning of Hwange Stage 7 and 8, so we are looking at an excess of 400 houses that need to be moved. This means that the schools and associated ancillary facilities will need to be set up for the relocation to have people settled there amicably. At present we actually have an ongoing process for the procurement of contractors who will do the construction of the houses.”
He, however, appealed to Government to assist in funding the relocations, adding that although they had secured land for the construction of the houses from council they were not going to meet deadlines for evacuations.
“In terms of the Ema requirement we may not be able to fulfil it on time, the unfortunate part being that the funding requirement on this project only meets the requirements on the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) costs.
In terms of this other one it’s a cost that came after the project had already been scoped. Therefore, we are looking at an excess of US$60m that is required for the Hwange Ingagula to be setup. That means we may require assistance from all angles to try and make sure that we are able to commission the project while we pursue the construction of the Ingagula relocation houses,” he said.
The project is now 64,63 percent complete with adjusted timelines indicating that unit 7 is expected to be online in January next year, after missing the scheduled April timelines due to Covid-19-induced delays.
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