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Locadia Mavhudzi Midlands Correspondent
Silobela community has embraced the use of biogas energy at household level, which has improved their living conditions.
This follows a successful pilot programme funded by the Environmental Management Agency (EMA).

The biogas project has enabled the people of Gobo and Msilahobe areas in Wards 18 and 24 in Silobela to use the energy for cooking and lighting purposes, thereby reducing deforestation in the area. Silobela has been adversely affected by deforestation due to land clearance for farming purposes.

EMA Midlands environmental planning and monitoring officer Ms Anastancia Mangisi said they have completed a pilot project in two wards where households are now using the energy from livestock waste. “We trained 15 builders who will be constructing more household digesters around Kwekwe and Silobela areas,” she said. “So far a community of over 100 families has embraced this innovation. The household biogas projects will cascade to the other districts in the province and so far 30 youths have been trained on the same project in Lower Gweru.” Ms Mangisi said the biogas project has been a success and will help control deforestation in the area..

The gas can be used for cooking and lighting or for generating electricity.