Over 20 000 Beitbridge rural homes to get solar power

Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau

AT least 22 000 rural households across the Beitbridge district are set to be connected to solar energy under the Presidential Rural Solarisation project over the next six years, with the roll-out expected to begin at the end of this month.

The project aims to provide solar power to at least 3 700 households annually in the district during the implementation period.

Cabinet recently approved the Government’s plan to roll out the project in 1,2 million households across all eight rural provinces.

This initiative is expected to enhance energy access, improve living conditions, and promote sustainable development in rural communities.

The project is part of the broader Rural Development 8.0 Strategy, which aims to uplift rural livelihoods, enhance agricultural productivity, and boost food security.

The Rural Infrastructural Development Agency (RIDA) is overseeing the implementation of the project through an Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee, comprising experts from local universities.

RIDA coordinator for Beitbridge, Mr Tinashe Ngundu, said during an inception meeting on Tuesday that significant progress had already been made in terms of logistics ahead of the full implementation.

“We expect to launch the project at the end of March and are currently holding inception and sensitisation meetings with the Rural District Development Committee members and key stakeholders, with the help of the District Development Coordinator,” said Mr Ngundu.

He added that the project will be financed by the Government, while other stakeholders will provide affordable advanced solar technologies.

This includes batteries, inverters, solar panels, and cables to power gadgets such as light bulbs, radios, televisions, phone chargers, laptops, small refrigerators, submersible pumps (for boreholes), and Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) services.

“Under this initiative, local youths and women will be trained to participate in the installation programmes implemented in villages across the district. This will boost a lifelong skills transfer programme and also help with the maintenance of the facilities by those trained by our teams,” said Mr Ngundu.

“The beneficiaries, including traditional leaders, war veterans, vulnerable members of the community, and ordinary villagers, are set to benefit from this initiative over the six-year implementation period.

This project is a key intervention expected to boost domestic productivity, create employment opportunities, and promote self-sustenance in our rural communities.”