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Conrad Mupesa
Mashonaland West Bureau
A 120-kilowatt solar plant in Dete, Hurungwe North Constituency, is almost complete, with 98 percent of the work done.
Technicians from the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) are now working on pre-testing ahead of official commissioning by the Minister of Energy and Power Development, Edgar Moyo soon.
Already 13 homesteads, two schools, a clinic, 32 shops, two community boreholes, grinding mills and a welding structure have been connected.
Schools are expected to roll out Information Communication Technology learning while primary health care providers will have an all time cold chain to keep medicines that require refrigerating.
REA and the Rural Electrification Fund (REF) through funding from a developmental partner, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are spearheading the project.
The UNDP has supplied materials for the plant including panels, batteries and an inverter while technicians from REA are putting the solar plant together.
REA has also supplied poles, a conductor and all other materials.
REA spokesperson Mr Johannes Nyamayedenga said pre-commissioning testing is slated for next week.
“The 120 KW solar plant is almost complete with our manpower doing final touches. Works are now above 98 percent. We will have the pre-commissioning next week that will connect all the beneficiaries to the grid before official commissioning by our Minister (Energy and Power Development Minister Moyo).
“As REA, we are excited that we are connecting rural communities to electricity. Some of these people have never been connected to electricity since and, we are rallying behind President Mnangagwa’s mantra of leaving no one and no place behind in line with Vision 2030,” he said.
Mr Nyamayedenga said REA was also going to roll out the same projects across all the rural provinces with two categories of solar systems projects lined up covering institutions and the communities.
REA’s provincial manager, Engineer Last Sauramba consumers will have access to the solar power after buying electricity tokens in the same manner urban consumers do.
“Each household and any facility connected to the grid, will have to purchase tokens so as to access uninterrupted electricity supply,” he said.
Hurungwe Rural District Council acting chief executive officer, Ms Felistas Muteta commended REA and development partners for bringing development to the marginalised area of the district.
“Dete is one of the remote areas we have in the district and electricity will transform the area,” she said.
Area legislator Cde Pax Muringazuva said he was going to roll out income generating projects for youths and women in the area now that the area has electricity.
“In order to cut rural-to-urban migration, we are going to set up mini-industrial hubs in the area where our youths will benefit through welding and sewing among other projects that rely on electricity,” Cde Muringazuva said.
Provincial education director Mr Gabriel Mhuma and provincial nursing officer Mr Farayi Marufu said electricity will help them retain staff that have been shunning the area.
Chief Kazangarare bemoaned the poor road that connects the area with Karoi, the nearest service town.
Online Reporter