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Rtd Brig-Gen Gwanetsa

Tawanda Mangoma in Chiredzi
Villagers in the remote Chikombedzi communal lands south of Chiredzi have received a major boost after the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) recently completed a $450 000 power line that will supply electricity to more than 2 000 households.

The new power line will also supply power to 10 schools, clinics and business centre in the area. REA erected the power line that runs from Makambe to Majijima business centres as part of the ongoing programme to bring electricity to previously marginalised rural communities in remote parts of the country.

Chiredzi South Member of Parliament Retired Brigadier-General Callisto Gwanetsa hailed the move by REA, saying the development will uplift the lives of people in remote rural Chikombedzi.

“The line from Makambe to Majijimba Business Centre will supply power to five schools, three clinics, four business centres in rural Chikombedzi and over 2 000 homesteads,’’ he said.

“We are delighted that Government, through the Rural Electrification Agency has successfully completed the installation of the Makambe to Majijimba electricity line,” he said.

“The good news is four business centres – Makambe, Malipate, Old Boli and Majijimba – two secondary schools Old Boli and Majijimba and Tichadya, Old Holland and Majijimba primary schools will all be connected to electricity.”

Rtd Brig-Gen Gwanetsa said rural electrification will improve mobile phone connectivity in the area as mobile phone companies have already started installing network boosters.

“The absence of electricity has been a major setback for multiple developmental programmes in Chikombedzi, where villagers have been complaining about poor mobile phone reception owing to poor network, but that will now be a thing of the past,’’ he said.

The legislator also said the availability of electricity will lead to the revival of several irrigation schemes in the area.

The completion of Makambe-Majijimba power line comes as REA has announced plans to erect another power line linking Malipati and Gezani business centres in the Limpopo Valley that borders Zimbabwe and South Africa.

Villagers in the Limpopo Valley have been complaining about lack of development in the area, with most of them relying on mobile phone communication from neighbouring South Africa owing to inaccessibility of local networks.