The Rural Electrification Fund (REF) has started the year 2016 on a high note with more than 100 public institutions having been electrified countrywide in the first three months of the year. After recording over 400 completed projects in 2015 a year which was characterised by harsh economic conditions, REF is gearing up to meet its Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable and Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim-Asset) target of providing energy to all public institutions in the country by 2018.

Energy and Power Development Deputy Minister, Sen Tsitsi Muzenda is excited by the work being done by REF Board, management and staff in the provision of energy in the formally marginalised rural areas of Zimbabwe.

Addressing hundreds of villagers who gathered at Shazhaume Primary School, about 16 kilometres south of Neshuro growth point in Mwenezi district of Masvingo province to witness the official switching on of electricity at the two schools, Sen Muzenda pointed out that REF has made notable achievements in the provision of energy in all the rural areas of Zimbabwe.

“Ladies and gentlemen, it is encouraging to note that the Fund has made significant strides in the electrification of Zimbabwe and I am informed that 8 451 rural institutions countrywide have been electrified to date with both grid and solar technologies,” she said.

Singling out Masvingo province, the deputy minister said that 1 119 rural institutions of which 92 are in Mwenezi district have been electrified.

The provision of electricity will no doubt lead to the empowerment of our rural communities, poverty alleviation, capacity building and employment creation in communities, in line with Zim-Asset.

Other benefits such as the reversal of rural to urban migration in search of fortune in towns and cities will be reduced as economic activities will be accruing in the downstream industries at growth points, business centres in at farms.

The Rural Electrification Fund (REF) was established in 2002 through an Act of Parliament with the specific mandate to facilitate rapid and equitable electrification of rural Zimbabwe to promote development and uplift the lifestyles of people who live in rural areas of Zimbabwe.

The deputy minister assured the nation that government through her ministry will continue to support the noble cause of providing energy to the rural areas of Zimbabwe to ensure that all the people have access to adequate, reliable and least cost and environmentally friendly and sustainable modern energy services.

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