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George Maponga in Masvingo
The ongoing construction of a US$14,2 million mini-hydro power plant at Lake Mutirikwi Dam by Great Zimbabwe Hydro Power Company is a landmark development that is stimulating economic growth in Masvingo province but is also testament to the Second Republic’s mantra that Zimbabwe is indeed open for business as the nation angles for Vision
2030.
Construction of the power plant is in line with Government’s drive to make sure Zimbabwe is not only energy self sufficient but also signifies the baby steps of a country that is gravitating towards clean energy as the world increasingly shifts to eco-friendly sources of energy in the wake of the rampaging ghost of climate change.
The project – being undertaken downstream of Zimbabwe’s second largest inland dam that was built to primarily irrigate cane fields in the Lowveld and supply water to the ancient city of Masvingo – is now 60 percent complete and now into the second phase which entails main civil works.
Great Zimbabwe Hydro Company is a special purpose vehicle created to implement the Lake Mutirikwi mini-hydro power plant project with a Zimbabwean firm MOL Hydro Power, Old Mutual Life Assurance and Frontier Energy of Denmark being the investors in the game-changing project.
The project, that will churn out 5MW, is poised for commissioning on 30 November this year when the switch-on ceremony will be held, marking the first feed into the national grid.
This project has breathed life in the economic lungs of Masvingo province especially in the sphere of employment with 350 skilled and semi-skilled workers billed to have been employed during various phases until end of construction. After commissioning 30 permanent staff will be hired by Great Zim Hydro Power Company.
However, it is employment benefits to locals-mostly unskilled labourers-that has brought joy to the faces of Masvingo people.
Over 100 unskilled workers from Murinye, Chikwanda and Mugabe communal lands that border Lake Mutirikwi have been hired to work on the power project, with 26 of them being women, which testifies to efforts to ensure gender parity in the hiring of employees by the investors.
Mr Patson Dzingirai of Munamati village in Murinye hailed the Second Republic for walking the talk on the “leaving no one and no place behind” philosophy that was propounded by President Mnangagwa.
“We are happy with the power generation plant construction project because it has not only created jobs for people around so that they can earn money to feed their families, but also that water from Lake Mutirikwi will not just flow downstream to benefit farmers in the Lowveld but also communities who live in the catchment like us.”
The same sentiments were echoed Mrs Chipo Silva of Chekenyika village in Murinye who hailed the employment of women under the project, saying their inclusion means many families will get someincome.
“The employment of women under this project(power plant) is good news because it is common knowledge that the first priority of many mothers it to support and look after their families and those who have been employed will sure be able to send their children to school and buy food and clothes for their offspring.”
Mr Charles Chomusoro of Zishumbe in Chikwanda said he hoped that power cuts will now be a thing of the past once the mini-hydro power is commissioned.
“We are very excited that they are building a power generation plant at Lake Mutirikwi and we want to thank President Mnangagwa for coming up with investor-friendly policies, but we also hope that there will be no more power cuts because a region where power is generated should get first preference in the allocation of available power,” said Mr Chomusoro.
Chief Munrinye, Mr Ephias Munodawafa, who has been working closely with Great Zimbabwe Hydro Power Project rendering all the required support, especially prior to start of the project, hailed President Mnangagwa’s Government for creating a conducive environment that allows investment in key sectors of the economy.
“We are indeed happy with this project because we will get clean energy and also we agreed with the investor that they could bring their own skilled professionals to work at the project site but all the entire unskilled workforce be hired from surrounding communities that fall under Chiefs Chikwanda, Mugabe, Shumba-Chekai and my own area, Murinye, where the project is located,” said Chief Munrinye.
The Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Ezra Chadzamira noted that the Lake Mutirikwi mini hydro power project was a game changer for Masvingo’s economy.
“This project in firmly in sync with Vision 2030 and will add impetus to the drive to make Zimbabwe power secure by generating enough electricity for local consumption and even export to earn foreign currency. We are happy as a province that jobs have been created benefiting mainly locals under this project and places Masvingo on course to be a pacesetter in clean energy production considering that another 17MW hydro power plant is earmarked for Tugwi-Mukosi Dam in
southern Masvingo,” said Minister Chadzamira.
Great Zim Hydro Power Company projects coordinator executive Mr Hubert Chipfumbu said everything was on course for commissioning of the project in November when power will be fed into the national grid.
He said the project had not encountered any technical challenges, noting that there were some few commercial challenges especially to do with the implementation of the agreement that required attention of the Government to make sure that foreign investors in the project are guaranteed to recoup their investment.
“We are receiving materials for the projects from across the globe and to date we have received more than seven loads of equipment from China and Europe. The project is at 60 percent complete and work on the power house has already started and we are also happy to announce that we have received 50 percent of materials required for building a penstock that will move water from the dam to the power house. The pen stock will be 450 metres long and will be supported by 12 anchor blocks that are under construction at the moment,” said Mr Chipfumbu.
He disclosed that the contractor for the third and final phase of the project, which is building of a 25km transmission
line from the plant to Kyle Substation, had moved on site.
The contractor of the transmission line project, Ralton Electricals of Harare, will join two other local contractors Goddard Construction and Masimba Construction, who were hired to build the access roads and carry out main civil works respectively.
Commissioning of Lake Mutirikwi mini-hydro power plant will ease the effects of crippling power cuts in Masvingo and the project will be another footprint of President Mnangagwa’s pragmatic leadership as he shepherds Zimbabwe towards becoming an upper middle income economy
by 2030.
Online Reporter