Online Reporter
Victor Maphosa
Recently in Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe
The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) recently connected Matsenga Primary and Secondary Schools and two business centres in Uzumba Maramba Pfungwe (UMP) District to the national grid, in a move aimed at enhancing quality service delivery in the education and business sectors in the district.
Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Advocate Itayi Ndudzo, who commissioned the Matsenga and Holgate REA electrification projects, said: “It is critical that infrastructure which brings critical services to the people, such as clinics, schools and business centres, be connected to electricity.
“All this is happening in our province, thanks to the Government, which is providing funds through the Rural Electrification Fund. The Rural Electrification Agency then uses that money to connect electricity to various areas in rural areas, as we are witnessing today.
“Government is well aware that electricity is key in terms of business and the transformation of people’s livelihoods. This is why there is this programme. So I commend REA for its work. “Beloved people, this is what our leader, President Mnangagwa, is doing for us. This is commendable. Let us all appreciate this.”
Advocate Ndudzo challenged beneficiaries to guard the infrastructure jealously and ensure no one vandalises it.
“We do not want to hear that there is someone who vandalises this infrastructure. All of you should be on the lookout for these unscrupulous elements,” he said.
“This is your infrastructure, and you should make sure that it is safe at all costs. Furthermore, I urge you to use electricity productively. You should work towards uplifting your livelihoods and developing your communities.
“President Mnangagwa is saying, let there be employment creation everywhere, even in the rural areas. Government will continue to bring programmes that are aimed at empowering communities.”
Rural Electrification Agency provincial manager for Mashonaland East, Engineer Edward Kandare, said their aim is to connect all public institutions in Mashonaland East province to power.
“We are running a programme to ensure that all public institutions, that is, schools as well as clinics are electrified by 2026,” he said.
“Today, we have come to commission the electrification project of Matsenga Primary and Secondary schools as well as the business centre.
“We started this project last year in February, and it was completed in September. We constructed about 3 km of powerline from Matsenga piggery to these institutions. On this project, we have made access to electricity to the teachers’ houses and also the administration block.
“We have also done another project at Holgate business centre, where we constructed about 1.8 km of high voltage line and we have installed a 200 Kva substation, which can give supply to more than 80 business shops at the centre. This business centre is serving about 12 villages, meaning these people can access modern services powered by electricity.”
He added that both projects have created employment for locals during the implementation period.
Maramba Pfungwe Member of Parliament Cde Tichaona Karumazondo (ZANU PF) welcomed the programme and thanked the Second Republic for the developments.
“Indeed, our President is a listening leader, a lot of developments are happening in UMP thanks to the Second Republic under President Mnangagwa,” he said.
“The President said no one and no place should be left behind when we talk of development and it is happening. Vision 2030 is a reality, we are witnessing massive developments in this district. Our children are benefiting in schools.
“There are some practical subjects which require electricity for them to be effectively conducted. In clinics, there are some medicines that require refrigeration, so without electricity, it becomes difficult to store those medicines.
“Our business centres can grow in terms of volume and services as long as there is electricity, so we are thankful to our President and the hardworking staff at REA for this initiative.”
Mrs Janet Chirimuuta, a teacher at Matsenga Primary School, said bringing electricity to the school is a game-changer.
“This is commendable. Our school has been transformed, and we are thankful to this development. We can now print some documents for our pupils. Our children now have an improved learning environment, which is commendable,” she said.
“As teachers, it also becomes easy for us to upgrade ourselves academically since we would be able to study even during the night, so we are thankful to the Government for this initiative.”
