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Luthando Mapepa
Chipinge Correspondent
AT least 77 families in Mt Selinda, Chipinge, have benefited from the Total Electrification Programme being spearheaded by Government as part of the National Development Strategy (NDS1).
The development comes after the recent commissioning of Hwange Units Seven and Eight by President Mnangagwa.
The electrification programme in Chipinge East brings great opportunities to beneficiaries who are mostly A2 farmers.
Most of these farmers are into market gardening, macadamia nuts, coffee, poultry farming.
Speaking during the switching on ceremony at Mt Selinda Primary School recently, Zesa executive chairperson, Dr Sydney Gata said the electrification programme is in line with President Mnangangwa’s mantra of leaving no place and no one behind.
“As Zesa, we are making sure that no place is left behind. We are connecting electricity to the rural people through our Total Electrification Programme. We are also aiming to connect every school in the country through this programme,” said Dr Gata.
He added that they are also connecting schools in remote areas to the Internet.
“Through our subsidiary, Powertel Company, we are making sure that whenever there is a power line, there is lnternet connectivity. The programme has already started and work is in progress,” he said
Ministry of Energy and Power Development’s chief director, Engineer Benson Munyaradzi who was representing the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Gloria Magombo, said Government will continue connecting electricity in all areas across the country.
“We have enough electricity after Government mobilised resources and rehabilitated Hwange Unit Seven and Eight. The programme is continuing so that no place will be left behind,” he said.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Charity Sukuta of Emerald Hill hailed Zesa and its partners for walking the talk.
Mrs Sukuta said the electrification programme will uplift her community as they can now have irrigation schemes.
“As a community, we were grappling with raising money to be connected to the national grid. Now Zesa has introduced the Total Electrification Programme for free and we hope we will utilise this opportunity and maximise production on our farms,” she said.
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