Story by Courage Bushe
SHURUGWI North is already enjoying the benefits of the government’s rural industrialisation drive following the electrification of three schools, Chief’s homestead, a clinic and a business centre by the Rural Electrification Fund ( REF).
Efforts by the government to leave no one and no place behind in the development matrix are continuing, as the development has come as a relief to local schools that have never had electricity.
“Now that there is electricity in schools, this will improve service delivery in the education sector here, considering that the setting up of science laboratories had become an elusive dream.
Small to medium projects, especially those relying on electricity, will be able to function properly and grow in numbers at the business centres which have been electrified,” said community members.
Rural Electrification Fund Board member, Mr Fungai Mbetsa, gave an update on similar programmes being spearheaded by the Fund.
“We want to change the lives of our people nationwide, and so far, we have done 10 000 similar programmes across the country. We have also managed to connect various households and business centres. We want to make sure that by the end of the year 2030, all rural areas are connected to the national grid.”
The Government is upbeat that the electrification program will play a pivotal role in stimulating growth and development in the province.
“This initiative by our president will help our learners to bridge the gap between rural and urban learners because there will be computers and labs here. More so, the learning system will be viable and easy for students, and even looking at the business side, there will be growth,” Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Owen Ncube said.
“As a government, our drive is to make sure that all rural schools have been equipped with requisite materials so that there won’t be any gap between them and urban centres. Our focus is to ensure we improve rural livelihoods by creating a conducive environment that stimulates economic growth,” Minister of Energy and Power Development, Honourable July Moyo added.
The target by the government is to work on ensuring the massive rollout and implementation of the electrification programme to benefit more rural communities.
The project that gobbled US$200 000 has seen Magumise and Makonese primary schools, Takunda Secondary school, Zvarota Clinic and business centre, and Chief Nhema’s homestead being electrified.
