Solar mini-grid boost for Nzvimbe community

Source: Solar mini-grid boost for Nzvimbe community – herald

Lovemore Kadzura

Mutare Bureau

THE Nzvimbe Solar Mini-Grid in Makoni South constituency was commissioned yesterday, bringing electricity to key public institutions and 63 households.

Funded by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) for ZiG11 million, the project was commissioned by Energy and Power Development Minister July Moyo.

It was described as a milestone achievement for the once marginalised community.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Minister Moyo said the establishment of the solar plant was in line with President Mnangagwa’s vision of ensuring access to clean energy for all citizens and communities.

“This solar mini-grid plant brings clean, reliable and affordable energy solutions to key institutions and village homesteads that serve as the backbone of social development in this formally marginalised community,” he said.

“We understand that electricity or energy in general is a critical resource which drives economic prosperity of our country and positively changes the living conditions of benefiting villagers, improvement of rural businesses operations and better working conditions of civil servants like teachers, nurses and agricultural extension staff.

“Our children at both Nzvimbe primary and secondary schools will now learn under better conditions, with access to digital tools and lighting that extend learning beyond daylight hours.”

Minister Moyo said the Nzvimbe solar mini-grid project is a demonstration of the Government’s unwavering commitment to achieving universal access to clean, affordable and reliable energy for all people, towards Vision 2030, which envisions a prosperous and empowered upper-middle-income society.

“It aligns with our national renewable energy policy. I am particularly impressed by REA’s efforts in the implementation of a biogas energy programme in villages to complement both grid and solar electricity.

“Here in Nzvimbe community, REA constructed 30 domestic biogas digesters to allow villagers whose homesteads are far away from the solar plant to enjoy smart cooking and desist from cutting down trees for use as firewood,” he said.

Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza, said the electrification of Nzvimbe would promote social and economic development in the community.

“Energy is the backbone of economic growth and national transformation. Without adequate power generation, industries cannot operate efficiently, hospitals and schools cannot function optimally and communities cannot realise their full productive potential.”

Makoni South legislator Cde Albert Nyakuedzwa hailed the development as a turning point for the community.

“For years, our people lived in darkness while the rest of the country moved forward. Today, that story has changed because of the President’s commitment to rural transformation.”