adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
ELECTRICITY has finally been restored at the Agricultural and Rural Development Authority’s (Arda) Ingwizi Estate in Mangwe District after it went for six weeks without power, a development that saw 150 hectares of maize being declared a write-off.
Arda Ingwizi Estate Manager Samuel Nyajeka said power was restored last weekend and since then they have experienced disruptions that lasted for a few hours only.
The estate relies on electricity to pump water from Ingwizi Dam.
“We are relieved that we have been finally reconnected which means that production can go back to normal. However, 150 hectares which had already been spoiled by the power disruptions can’t be revived anymore.
“We got power over the weekend and since then we have had undisrupted supply except on Wednesday where we lost power for a few hours but it appears they managed to rectify the problem,” he said.
Nyajeka said they had engaged Zesa’s office at national level and they were promised that long periods of power cuts would no longer be experienced at the estate.
The rains, which were received recently, helped to salvage the rest of the maize crop during the six weeks when there was no power at the estate.
Nyajeka said Zesa had confirmed that about 20 poles collapsed in Mangwe and Kezi areas resulting in the disruption. He complained that whenever there were electricity faults, it took long for the power authority to respond despite numerous reports being made.
Online Reporter