Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe in Beitbridge
THERE was jubilation at Tshitulipasi in Beitbridge District on Thursday as hundreds of community members, schoolchildren, traditional leaders and Government officials gathered to witness the commissioning of the 120KW Tshitulipasi Community Mini Grid Solar Project and the electrification of Cituripasi Secondary School.
The colourful event was marked by song, dance and celebration as villagers welcomed a development expected to transform education, improve livelihoods and stimulate economic activity in the area.
Schoolchildren, dressed in their uniforms, entertained guests with traditional dances and poems highlighting the importance of access to electricity in rural communities and its role in improving learning conditions.
The commissioning of the solar-powered mini-grid is expected to provide reliable and clean energy to Cituripasi Secondary School and the surrounding community, enhancing access to modern services while supporting productive economic activities.
Government officials who attended the event said the project demonstrates the Second Republic’s commitment to accelerating rural development and ensuring equitable access to critical infrastructure across the country.
They noted that the initiative is in line with the Government’s vision of ensuring that “no place and no one is left behind” in the national development agenda.
Speaking during the celebrations, community members said the commissioning of the solar mini-grid had brought renewed hope to Tshitulipasi, which for many years had operated without reliable electricity.
They said access to electricity would improve learning outcomes at the local school, enhance service delivery and create opportunities for economic growth within the community.
The Tshitulipasi Community Mini Grid Solar Project is among a number of initiatives being rolled out under Government programmes aimed at expanding access to sustainable energy and improving the quality of life in rural communities across Zimbabwe.
The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) project is supplying electricity to a primary school, 27 village homesteads, 18 business shops, two churches, a community borehole and three Government sub-offices.
The project was officially commissioned by Energy and Power Development Minister July Moyo marking a major milestone in Government efforts to expand rural electrification and promote inclusive development.
