Story by Josephine Mugiyo
CABINET has approved a raft of measures to improve the country’s power supply.
This was revealed at a Post Cabinet media briefing in Harare this Tuesday by the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere.
In a post-Cabinet media briefing in Harare this Tuesday, highlighted the raft of measures considered and adopted by the Cabinet to improve the country’s power supply.
“The structural challenges are being addressed by the Mutapa Investment Fund in a process involving bundling or merging of some entities under ZESA Holdings (Pvt) Ltd, as recommended by an independent consultant who was commissioned to undertake the task.
“This will result in a more simplified and efficient governance and management structure. Supply-side interventions include rehabilitation of Hwange Units 1 to 6 under a Build, Operate and Transfer arrangement which is set to commence this year. The Mutapa Investment Fund is also putting in place measures to cater for the foreign currency requirements of Independent Power Producers.
“To address the low uptake of net-metering from solar-generated electricity, ZESA has been specifically directed to promote the facility and streamline the pertinent procedures and requirements to increase uptake. The loss of electricity during transmission is being attended to through the establishment of a joint venture between ZENT and QLV for the manufacture of cables, and in dealing with theft,” said Dr Muswere.
Meanwhile, the SADC anti-sanctions day set for the 25th of this month coincides with the 21st ZANU PF Annual National People’s Conference to be held in Bulawayo.
“His Excellency the President, Cde. Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa will deliver a National Address. The President will also deliver a statement on Anti-Sanctions Day in his capacity as the Chairperson of SADC.
“Several activities have been lined-up to mark the SADC Anti-Sanctions Day and these include the following: SADC Anti-Sanctions Solidarity Summit which will comprise the Media Indaba, Roadshow, Cultural and Musical Events, Solidarity Marches and Public Awareness Campaigns. Other activities include Innovation Exhibitions by Primary and Secondary Schools, and Tertiary Institutions, Panel Discussions and Workshops, and a documentary, among others.”
It was also revealed that Zimbabwe will continue to lobby for the lifting of the illegal embargo which has been in place since the turn of the millennium.
“The fact that the US eased sanctions on Zimbabwe is no encouragement to anyone, we want a total removal of sanctions. We are going to have a campaign in Zimbabwe to drum up the removal of sanctions,” the Minister of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, Ambassador Frederick Shava said.
The Cabinet also received and adopted a report on ongoing preparations for the 2024 regional World Children’s Day celebrations at Boabab Primary School in Hwange.
The event will draw participants from Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
