adminItai Mazire Mash East Correspondent
A $26 million solar plant was commissioned last Friday in Seke Constituency and is expected to create 3 000 jobs.
The solar plant will be the country’s first massive clean energy project expected to add 120 megawatts to the national grid.
Addressing thousands of Zanu-PF supporters at the commissioning of the solar plant, Zanu-PF candidate for Seke Constituency Cde Munyaradzi Kashambe said the solar plant was an initiative buttressed by President Mnangagwa’s mantra, “Zimbabwe is open for business”.
“President Mnangagwa is saying Zimbabwe is open for business and here in Seke, we are open for business.
“We stand here today with these Chinese nationals and our local business partners to officially commission this $26 million solar plant.
“By July 30, we expect to have set up the first phase of the project. We are expecting to create 2 000 jobs and if you put it on the upstream and downstream impact, we looking at 3 000 jobs for Seke.
“Our intention, is to supply at least 30 megawatts to the national grid by December 2018 and in the next three years we would have achieved 120 megawatts,” said Cde Kashambe.
The solar plant is being funded by Chinese nationals and local business people who have been in engagement with Chief Seke over the past months.
Cde Kashambe said the clean energy project will not only benefit Seke, but the country as a whole.
“President Mnangagwa has set the inflow of investors into Zimbabwe and here in Seke Constituency, we are ready to work with investors.
“Today we have Chinese nationals on this project through our interactions with the international community and we expect to bring an additional $100 million projects.
“We are going to create employment for the country and in the long run, another solar plant is on the cards.
“We have completed the administration level of the project and now we are in the implementation phase. Harava Solar Plant is the first clean energy project in Zimbabwe. We expect it to spread its wings across Zimbabwe. Our objective is to electrify Zimbabwe.
“Our President Mnangagwa has opened doors for Zimbabwe and we are ready to bring investors to Seke, with the intention of creating at least 10 000 jobs for Seke in the next five years.
“This is not a political gimmick, we are not campaigning as Zanu-PF, but we are saying lets vote for President Mnangagwa in the forthcoming elections. Zanu-PF is a rejuvenated party and our leadership is bringing a bright future for Zimbabwe,” said Cde Kashambe.
Online Reporter