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Rutendo Nyeve, Sunday News Reporter
BINGA District is set to see significant progress in its electrification efforts with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) announcing that twenty-seven complete projects are soon to be energized following the resuscitation of the Siabuwa backbone line.
The line is at eighty percent completion after being out of service for an extended period due to the deterioration of its wooden poles.
The Siabuwa 33kV line, a critical electricity infrastructure for the region, had faced delays in repairs because of financial challenges leading to the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) delaying in procuring essential materials as well as paying for labour and transport.
Presenting a ministerial statement in the National Assembly on Wednesday, Minister of Energy and Power Development, Edgar Moyo detailed efforts by his ministry through REA to promote electrification in the country’s eight rural areas provinces and their districts including Binga in Matabeleland North Province.
He said while REA had completed 27 projects including the electrification of 16 schools, four clinics, four chiefs’ homesteads and two business centres, the project suffered a setback after the Siabuwa backbone line which is the feeder line went down.
“In Binga, we have completed 27 projects but we got affected by the Siabuwa line under the management of ZETDC which went down. The other ancillary lines are under the charge of REA. For all these, there is a problem with the backbone line because they feed on the Siabuwa line. We have since commenced the resuscitation of the line and it is now at 80 completion,” said Minister Moyo.
He said the electrification projects were being carried out according to the Rural Electrification Masterplan established by REA for the nation. All these projects are then picked from the master plan for implementation. The Sinakoma area is reticulated up to Chief Sinakoma and Chininga Primary,” said Minister Moyo.
ZETDC, he added, is currently awaiting connection applications from potential clients, with distribution facilities in place in several areas.
At Lusulu, which includes Siadindi, Minister Moyo reported ongoing restoration efforts as poles remain down, with an anticipated energisation in progress.
“As for Tyunga and fishing camps, there are more switching stands that are temporary and have no standard structures. The nearest power supply line is more than 40 kilometres away. A new project to reticulate this area is to be inserted in the 2025 Budget,” he added.
He clarified that areas surrounding Kalungwizi, linked to the Siabuwa 33kV line still undergoing restoration were to be energised once work has been completed.
The minister confirmed that 12 electrification projects have been identified for this year, with plans for an additional 10 in 2025. @nyeve14.
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