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the area was recognised as an urban settlement, a Zesa Holdings official has disclosed.
Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company acting general manager Mr Julian Chinembiri said the Epworth electrification was part of a US$35,8 million fund to build substations in Mufakose, Glen Norah, Greystone Park and Luna in Borrowdale.
A total of US$7,6 million has been committed to Epworth.
Work is expected to be complete in the next three months following which households would be connected to power.
Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo was guest of honour at the recent ground breaking ceremony.
Zanu-PF Harare provincial chairman Cde Amos Midzi and Epworth Member of the House of Assembly Mr Eliah Jembere attended the ceremony at the site where the sprawling human settlement’s first substation would be built.
Out of the 20 000 homesteads in Epworth less than 100 have electricity, with the rest of the residents relying on wood fuels, electrical generators, candles and paraffin.
The costs of the fuels far outweigh those of electricity.
The electrification of Epworth is expected to boost business and attract investors to the urban settlement of more 250 000 inhabitants.
People began settling in Epworth in the early 1890s when Harare was built but were never connected to the power grid.
Minister Chombo said Epworth was established as a local authority in 1986.
The mandate of the board was to improve the living conditions of the people.
He decried the health hazards associated with the carbon fuels that are under use in the area.
“The expenses that a family in Epworth incurs in a week may well be enough to pay for electricity in a whole month for a family living in an area where there is electricity,” he said.
Because of the darkness, muggings, robberies, murders and rapes were very common at night.
He said residents would be able to buy household furniture like televisions, electric stoves, radios and refrigerators among other electric powered items.