Story by Wadzanai Mandima
KARIBA – THE Rural Electrification Programme is progressing well, with the Negande community in Kariba, Mashonaland West Province, being the latest to be connected to the national grid.
The Negande Community Electrification Project in Kariba has seen three schools, a business centre and a clinic being connected to the national grid courtesy of the government’s Rural Electrification Programme which is being implemented countrywide.
Beneficiaries are grateful to the government for transforming their lives under the inclusive development mantra.
“I am happy with this development as teachers no longer wish to transfer to towns. Electricity is also going to improve the school pass rate as children can now study after school hours,” a teacher said.
“The development is set to increase the viability of our businesses since we can now operate until late into the evening,” an entrepreneur said.
“As learners from this area, we are excited we can now learn using computers since we now have electricity,” a learner said.
“As women, this is good news as we can now access safe maternity services; we can now give birth safely,” a community member said.
In a speech read on her behalf by Director Local Government Mrs Cecelia Chitiyo, Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Honourable Marian Chombo said the government is committed to the inclusive development approach.
“The coming of electricity is in line with President Mnangagwa’s vision 2030 which states that no one and no place will be left behind,” she said.
Rural Electrification Agency Acting Chief Executive Officer Mrs Felista Makumbinde said by 2030, all the rural areas would have been electrified with one form of energy or the other.
“As REA we are not ending here, all the rural areas are going to be electrified by 2030,” she said.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, Engineer Gloria Magombo said electricity is the backbone of development.
“The electrification of rural areas is a major enabler of economic development. I urge the community to come up with projects such as welding and farming,” she said.
The electrification programme is in line with the government’s rural industrialisation drive meant to contribute towards the attainment of an upper middle-income society by 2030.
