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Conrad Mupesa–Mashonaland West Bureau
THE Government, through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), has intensified power connectivity in the communal areas of Mashonaland West, bridging the urban-rural divide in line with President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030.
REA has a target of more than seven projects in districts of the province with some already up and running.
The agency’s provincial manager, Engineer Last Taguma Sauramba, told The Herald that the solar and biogas power schemes, which are mainly targeting public institutions and business centres, would support villages.
Said Eng Sauramba: “We have already done Mana Pools in Kariba to supply 10 kilowatts of power covering a clinic, Zimbabwe Republic Police and Zimparks camps,” he said.
In Makonde district, there were plans to set up a 20-kilowatt system at Runene Business Centre, covering all the public institutions.
“We are also doing 120KW Dete community solar scheme near Kazangarare in Hurungwe North constituency,” he said. “It will cover all institutions including schools, churches, shops, and villages.”
There were also plans to do a 10kW system at Batanai in the Hurungwe West constituency and this was also adopted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with REA.
UNDP, which is partnering with the government on the Dete project, has also joined Zimbabwe’s efforts in the 70kW Gadza solar system in Sanyati district. The project has since been adopted by UNDP for partnership with REA and it will cover villages, primary schools, clinics and business centres.
Sanyati legislator, Dr Polite Kambamura, said the initiative augured well with the Second Republic’s drive of electrifying rural areas.
“This is testimony that President Mnangagwa has to be voted resoundingly back into office,” he said. “His vision of bridging the rural/urban gap is moving accordingly. He has emphasised that no one should be left behind and this is happening.”
Ms Sharai Rumbidzai, who heads a school some 10kmaway from Gadza business centre, said the imminent life changing project was long overdue.
“This system is going to end a curse that we had as a community. Having power in the area is going to improve a lot including ICT education at schools,” she said.
A shop owner at Gadza, Maxwell Chiwara, said the electricity was going to boost their businesses as they would be able to order more items requiring refrigeration.
Mashonaland West nursing officer, Mr Farayi Marufu, said the schemes being rolled out across the province were going to support the cold chains used to store injections and certain medications.
“Our clinics are supplied with injections and medicines that require certain temperatures,” he said. “The coming in of solar power is going to help preserve and prolong the medicines’ shelf life.”
The alternative root taken by REA to solarise rural areas speaks to the Government’s drive for the nation to use renewable energy as the national power grid continues to face deficits owing to a number of factors.
Online Reporter