Online Reporter
George Maponga
Masvingo Bureau
THE Government plans to develop two additional mini-hydroelectric power stations downstream of Lake Mutirikwi that will generate a combined 20 megawatts (MW) of electricity, as Zimbabwe accelerates its transition to clean and renewable energy sources.
The expansion follows the successful completion of a 5MW hydropower plant at Mutirikwi Dam by Great Zimbabwe Hydro Power Company, which began feeding electricity into the national grid during the first three months of the year.
The project, valued at US$14,6 million, has significantly improved power supplies in Masvingo city and positioned the province at the forefront of the nation’s clean energy drive.
The Mutirikwi hydropower plant — one of the key milestones under the Second Republic’s push for renewable energy — harnesses the flow of water from Lake Mutirikwi to generate electricity. The authorities now intend to develop two more plants along Mutirikwi River to further boost electricity generation.
Permanent Secretary for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Dr Addmore Pazvakavambwa said feasibility studies had already confirmed the potential for an additional 20MW of electricity generation downstream of the existing plant.
“There is scope for building more mini-hydropower plants downstream of Mutirikwi River to generate power, and initial feasibility studies have shown that a cumulative 20MW can be produced along the river,” he said.
He said the next project, known as Mutirikwi 2, will produce another 5MW, bringing total output from the Mutirikwi system to 10MW once complete. Further downstream, another plant is planned at Bangala Dam, which also lies along the Mutirikwi River. The Bangala project is expected to contribute an additional 10MW to the national grid.
“A cumulative 20MW of clean energy could be produced along Mutirikwi River alone,” said Dr Pazvakavambwa.
“If we add the 15MW being developed at the Tugwi-Mukosi hydropower project, we will be talking of Masvingo as the home of clean energy in Zimbabwe.”
The province’s high dam density, he said, offers vast opportunities for renewable power generation, helping reduce electricity imports and outages that hamper industrial productivity.
“With the Government also expanding the rural industrialisation drive, there is need to develop more power projects,” Dr Pazvakavambwa added.
“We are happy that the Public Service Pension Fund is also involved at the Tugwi-Mukosi hydropower project, which is now in full swing and will soon add more clean energy into the grid.”
Masvingo province is already contributing significantly to renewable energy generation.
The two major sugar mills — Hippo Valley and Triangle in Chiredzi — together produce over 30MW of renewable energy from sugarcane by-products.
Most of this power is used for internal operations during the April to December milling season, with surplus energy fed into the national grid.
Tinaye Agere