Online Reporter
Farirai Machivenyika-Senior Reporter
The country’s power utility, Zesa Holdings, intends to add 1 365MW to the national grid by year-end as it seeks to end load shedding that has been a challenge to the country.
This was said by Zesa Holdings chief executive officer, Eng Cletus Nyachowe, to parliamentarians in the Public Accounts Committee yesterday during their ongoing verification visits to entities under the Mutapa Investment Fund (MIF).
The plan by the utility comes against the backdrop of the country going for 138 consecutive days without load shedding.
In his presentation, Eng Nyachowe said that various projects would add 635MW by December this year.
“Construction is in progress that will add 635MW, while we are concluding financial closure for an additional 730MW. The total by December 2026 is 1 365MW,” he said.
Eng Nyachowe said there were over 500 000 new houses that had been constructed across the country that had yet to be electrified, adding that they were working with various players, including the Rural Electrification Agency, on their electrification.
In its agenda for Vision 2030, the power utility plans to end load shedding by year-end, stop power imports by the end of next year, commence net power exports by 2028, clear all connections backlog by 2029, and complete universal access to power and data by 2030.
“Approximately US$2 billion is required for upgrading and maintenance of generation, transmission and distribution networks,” Eng Nyachowe said.
He also said they had managed, with the assistance of the MIF, to raise US$1,4 billion in loans, which they had used to service some of their debts.
Nyachowe is talking absolute rubbish. Members of parliament must not continue to be hoodwinked by these fully fed talkshow pundits. Why didn’t he state the particular projects that will generate the extra power? How does he foresee no load shedding when development in the economy that continues to demand power is picking up so rapidly? What makes him so confident that such development will not overtake the supply of energy? These parliamentary portfolio committees must always ask relevant questions and demand logical answers. A lot of these corporate leaders always want to put a spin that means nothing to their answers. It is the reason why ZISCOSTEEL is still in the condition it is. How many times were we promised that something good was imminent at that defunct steel plant? How many “recovery” plans have been promised to these committees regarding the revival of NRZ? Does anyone remember when we were promised that the Gwaai-Shangani dam would be completed? Does anyone remember the time that Harare’s public transport system would be fully functional? The list is endless. All these promises were given before Parliamentary Portfolio Committees years ago.