adminCollette Mukome
FREQUENT power-cuts blighting the country have led people to come up with different solutions that include the use of gas, solar and generators.
Calls are growing for Government to invest in solar technology to mitigate load-shedding. Even studies by ZESA appear to suggest that the technology is expensive relative to investment utilisation levels.
The electricity situation has serious repercussions on the recovery of the productive sectors of the economy such as manufacturing, agriculture, mining and tourism which are key to economic recovery.
The Chigodora community is set to benefit from a local mini-hydro power station set up by their fellow colleagues to help them in their households and in agricultural production.
Mr Julius Madekurozva, of Chishakwe Village, founded Gwenyaguru Nyaduri Hydro-electric Power Station located at Nyaduri Falls and Mpudzi River with the help of his brothers, Sailas, Thomas and Luke who are the project co-ordinators.
The Gwenyaguru Nyaduri Station eases pressure on the remaining indigenous woodlands. The mini-hydro power station is a two megawatt plant (20 000 watts) which is set to benefit 137 households around Chishakwe area.
In an interview, the Madekurozva family, said their ambition was to see the project changing lives of their community through the use of locally available resources.
“We are very much interested in community development and empowerment. We are a company that can grow if Government and donors assist us to pursue our dream. We have not received any funding yet. We are using our own resources, hence we are supplying power to 20 households as for now. We believe that given the support for innovation we will be able to produce electricity that can stimulate development and change the lives of the whole village,” said Julius.
“I am the one who designed the electricity machines with the help of my brothers. I learnt how to design and set the machines in Mozambique when I was an employee at Sherrill, a distribution company which is more or less like ZESA.
“Since load-shedding is affecting the country, we also have other plans to start a mini-hydro power station in Mutasa and we have started surveying the water conditions.
“We observed that perennial rivers like Mpudzi River generate 120 litres per second especially during summer, so we are quite sure that the hydro-power station will be able to supply them without any shortages.
“We want to preserve more water by constructing a dam. We are happy that Agritex has promised to assist us in water preservation.”
One of the beneficiaries, Mr Denny Mutanda, said: “We can now embark on horticulture because we need electricity to pump water from the river to our gardens. Electricity is cheaper than diesel. For years I have failed to raise $55 000 that was being demanded by Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to connect me to the power transformer.
“Our prayers were not in vain because God replied through the Madekurozva family. I pray that Government should fund them because their project has capacity to change lives.”
Mutare South legislator, Cde Nyasha Chikwinya, said she was working closely with the brains behind the project so that it expands its wings to more than 500 households.
Mr Alex Madzima, who is also a beneficiary, said if Government funds such a project, a lot of opportunities would be unlocked for locals. The Gwenyaguru Nyaduri Hydro-power Station employs 10 people.
Online Reporter