Zesa, farmers strike power supply deal

electricity during the coming winter wheat season.
Farmers will require at least 66 megawatts (MW) of electricity while a total of 44 611 hectares will be put under winter wheat.
Zimbabwe Electricity and Transmission Distribution Company acting general manager, Mr Julian Chinembiri said the power utility held a series of meetings with farmers unions on the subject.
“The farmers need at least three days a week of power supply to be able to irrigate,” he said.
Wheat farmers have in past seasons blamed inconsistent power supplies for negatively impacting winter wheat farming.
Zimbabwe is facing a perennial power shortage with demand of 2 100 MW far surpassing supply, which stands between 1 300 and 1 400 MW.
As part of the deal, the power utility will get payments for the power supply after the crop has been sold.
“We have come up with a strategy to have stop orders with them (farmers) so that they pay after harvest,” Mr Chinembiri said.
“We are signing agreements with most of the farmers.”
A major bone of contention between the farmers and the power utility however, remains as the former still owe the power utility a lot money from previous winter seasons’ supply.
The ZETDC boss said arrangements are still to be made on how the farmers’ debt would be settled. – New Ziana.