President, Emmerson Mnangagwa Saturday revealed that the current power shortages are a result of economic growth being witnessed under his administration.
Addressing Zanu-PF supporters in Chiredzi, Mnangagwa said the current shortages are a result of economic growth in Zimbabwe.
“There is a shortage of electricity in the country and the SADC (Southern African Development Community) region. In our case, it is mainly because of the economic growth we have experienced in recent years,” Mnangagwa said.
This is despite limited growth within the economy over the past few years due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as erratic rains which heavily affected yield leaving millions on the brink of starvation.
Outages in Zimbabwe are draining the already struggling economy as businesses and households go long hours without electricity.
The state-owned Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company blame technical challenges at its two main power stations.
In recent weeks, problems at the ageing Kariba Hydro and Hwange Thermal power stations, as well as import constraints, have seen outages increase. The Hwange 7 and 8 Power Project, which is now 97 per cent complete is set to add 600 megawatts to the national grid, according to Mnangagwa.
Meanwhile, Mnangagwa is set to benefit from a donation from Rwandan President Paul Kagame, who is believed to have mobilised US$800 million in funding for the rural electrification programme in Zimbabwe.
Mnangagwa said the programme will feed into his government’s rural development agenda, which encompasses the creation of smart homes equipped with clean energy, potable water and nutrition gardens.
“We have a programme which is coming at the end of this month. President Kagame of Rwanda is visiting us for this occasion. This is after I spoke to him to say, fellow brother, our country Zimbabwe is under sanctions but we have a programme to ensure everyone has access to electricity wherever they are. President Kagame then spoke to his friends and he secured US$800 million. So that’s the facility he is coming to launch,” Mnangagwa said.
Kagame will attend the unveiling of the rural electrification programme at the end of this month
