adminMidlands Bureau
The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) is committed to fulfilling its role in the Transitional Stabilisation programme (TSP) by providing energy in the rural communities in a quest to have the bulk of the rural community electrified in line with President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030, REA chairperson Mr Willard Chiwewe has said.
In a speech read on his behalf during the commissioning of electricity at Manzimnyama primary and secondary schools in Zhombe recently, Mr Chiwewe said the parastatals’ target was to have 60 percent of the rural populace having access to modern energy services by the year 2030.
He said the Rural Electrification Fund has remained consistent with the mandate to ensure that grid electricity is extended to rural areas.
“Despite the challenges faced by the country, the fund has continued to make meaningful progress in the electrification of the rural areas of Zimbabwe.
“So far REA has electrified over 9 300 rural institutions that include schools, clinics, chiefs’ homesteads, business centres and villages countrywide. We remain committed to the TSP as it plays a major role in attaining our Vision 2030 as envisaged by President Mnangagwa,” said Mr Chiwewe.
He said since January, the fund has completed grid projects covering 37 institutions and 2 biogas projects countrywide, adding an additional 332 additional grid projects and eight institutional biogas digesters were in progress countrywide during the same period.
He urged school authorities, pupils and the community at large to safeguard the electrical gadgets that were installed at institutions.
Speaking at the same occasion, Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs Senator Larry Mavima said it was encouraging to note that REA has continued to make some notable progress in the electrification of the rural areas of Zimbabwe despite economic hardships.
“I am informed that to date the fund has electrified 9 313 rural institutions countrywide.
“This is encouraging to note that the fund continues to make strides despite the economic challenges the country is going through,” said Senator Mavima.
He said the provision of electricity in the rural communities will help empower such communities in alleviating poverty in Zimbabwe.
He, however, bemoaned rampant cases of theft and vandalism on electricity grid infrastructure.
“I would like to urge the community to ensure that the grid infrastructure is not vandalised.
“The rural communities are the beneficiaries and are, therefore, expected to jealously guard the electricity infrastructure from such acts of sabotage,” he said.
Manzimnyama primary and secondary schools, which are a stone’s throw away from each other, have a combined 844 pupils and a staff compliment of 28 teachers.
The electricity which was connected to the schools’ administration blocks, is also expected to be connected to the rest of classroom blocks and staff cottages.
Online Reporter