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Elizabeth Tsuro Midlands Reporter
THE private sector should invest in electricity generation to augment the government’s efforts and ensure improved supply. Energy and Power Development Deputy Minister, Tsitsi Muzenda, said without private sector participation, the proposed 25 percent cut in power spending for heavy industries, would cripple industrial viability.
Most firms, mainly mines, fear losing production time and might face closure after the government announced the adoption of measures to reduce power consumption.
“I was motivated by this energy project in Cape Town, South Africa, whereby they were producing over 9.3 megawatts contributing to the national grid using solar energy,” she said.
“This project is successful as South Africa’s tendering system is quite different from ours as they give their small to medium enterprises a chance to link with the energy sector.”
Deputy Minister Muzenda said Zimbabwe should develop big solar projects and challenged mines and heavy industries to venture into energy generation.
“We’ve many dams we can put to use to increase power generation in Zimbabwe and by doing that industries will not close. As a ministry, we’ll discuss in due course what’s the way forward towards this issue,” she said.
The Deputy Minister was the guest of honour at Mambo High School’s prize giving ceremony in Gweru.
In her address she urged schools to give quality education to accord children an opportunity for socio-economic growth.
derick.khumalo