Harare, (New Ziana) – The Zimbabwe government has this year intensified efforts to provide uninterrupted power supply for the winter wheat crop, as part of broader measures to ensure national food security, a Cabinet Minister has said.
Energy and Power Development Minister July Moyo said this on Wednesday while addressing the media on the sidelines of the National Energy Compact Programme meeting in the capital.
He said his Ministry is working closely with that of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development to match energy provision with the projected wheat hectarage.
“There are challenges, yes, but our focus during this period is to make sure that our wheat production is secure and meets national targets. The Ministry of Agriculture has already indicated the hectarage they plan to plant, and we are aligning energy supply accordingly,” he said While acknowledging power generation difficulties at Hwange Power Station, the minister revealed that the government has ramped up power output at Kariba to compensate for the shortfall.
He also highlighted the growing role of the private sector in energy generation, with several companies now producing their own power following encouragement from the government.
“Industries such as Ngezi Platinum Mine are using solar energy, while Dinson Iron and Steel Company is relying on thermal power and coking gas. This self-sufficiency helps reduce pressure on the national grid while supporting overall energy availability,” he said.
Moyo encouraged more companies to invest in alternative energy sources, including solar and thermal, as part of a wider strategy to improve energy security across industries.
Turning to the Kariba Dam, Moyo expressed optimism over improving water levels. He said the dam, which was below 7 percent at the beginning of the rainy season, has now risen to over 15 percent.
“Last year at this time, Kariba was at 13 percent and went even lower. Now we are seeing an upward trend,” he said.
He pointed to the Victoria Falls as a key indicator of future inflows, noting that water flow has surged from 700 cubic metres per second last year to the current more than 2 700 cubic metres per second.
Moyo explained that water feeding into Kariba originates from the Democratic Republic of Congo and flows through Angola, taking around two months to reach the dam.
The Zambezi River Authority is expected to use the improved water levels to determine power allocations for Zimbabwe’s ZESA and Zambia’s ZESCO.
With wheat being a strategic crop, especially during the winter season, the government’s coordinated approach aims to eliminate power disruptions and maintain national production momentum.
New Ziana
