Harare, (New Ziana) – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has partnered the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to electrify rural clinics across the country in a move expected to improve healthcare delivery, particularly maternal services in remote areas.
Speaking during the commissioning of the 120-kilowatt Dete solar mini-grid plant at Dete Primary School in Hurungwe on Thursday, Energy and Power Development Minister July Moyo hailed the partnership, saying access to electricity at rural health institutions was critical.
The solar plant will supply electricity to two schools, a clinic, a business centre, two community boreholes, five churches and four villages.
Moyo said electrification of clinics would greatly assist women giving birth at night, adding that the initiative was already receiving international recognition.
“Two years ago, I attended a United Nations conference in New York where I thanked UNDP in front of the whole world about the programme,” he said.
He said the country was increasingly turning to solar energy, particularly during drought periods when low water levels at Kariba Dam limit hydro-electricity generation.
Following the growing importance of renewable energy, President Emmerson Mnangagwa established a committee led by Lands and Agriculture Minister Anxious Masuka to explore ways of complementing hydro power generation at Kariba with solar energy.
Moyo said once fully operational, the project would generate 600 megawatts of electricity.
“This shows how important Mashonaland West is to the country in terms of power generation,” he said.
He added that a private company contracted for the project had reached advanced stages before commencement of works at Kariba Dam.
According to the Minister, key processes including agreements with the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA), Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) and Grid Impact Assessments (GIA) had already been completed, with only financial closure remaining before implementation begins.
Moyo challenged wheat farmers to embrace solar-powered irrigation systems to mitigate the effects of load shedding.
He also urged schools benefiting from solar electrification to establish income-generating projects.
“I am also imploring traditional leaders to urge villagers to set up village business units, taking advantage of the solar energy brought here by REA,” he said.
He said such initiatives would enable communities to generate income throughout the year instead of relying solely on rain-fed agriculture.
Moyo, however, expressed concern over the under-utilisation of electricity in the area.
“The amount of energy you are getting is more than what you are utilizing, so my appeal to you all traditional leaders is that encourage your subjects to venture into various income generating projects,” he said.
He also commended Dete Secondary School for improving its academic performance following the installation of solar energy at the institution.
The school’s Ordinary Level pass rate increased from 13 percent to 25 percent over the past two years.
Speaking at the same event, REA director of projects, Lukas Mukucha, representing acting chief executive officer Felisters Makumbinde, said the project comprises a 120-kilowatt photovoltaic solar system and 5.89 kilometres of medium-voltage power lines.
Mukucha said REA had so far electrified 107 primary schools, 69 secondary schools, 17 rural health centres, all eight chiefs’ homesteads, 30 business centres, 27 small-scale farms and 40 villages in Hurungwe district.
“In total, 253 institutions have been electrified in the district,” he said.
UNDP representative, Tafadzwa Muvingi said energy remained central to development and poverty eradication.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we cannot speak of development, industrialisation or poverty eradication without talking about energy,” said Muvingi.
“Energy is not just a stand-alone goal under SDG 7, it is the backbone of development and a critical lever for decarbonisation and climate change.”
New Ziana
