Minister Samuel Undenge

Pamela Shumba Senior Reporter
ENERGY and Power Development Minister Samuel Undenge yesterday commissioned two of the seven transformers being installed in the country under a $40 million emergency power infrastructure rehabilitation project (EPIRP) meant to increase power and water supply.

The Criterion and Mpopoma Substations power transformers are part of the power distribution projects being carried out countrywide through the Zimbabwe Multi-Donor trust fund (Zim-Fund) set up in 2010 through development partners Australia, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Minister Undenge said the projects will contribute supplies to critical institutions and are in line with Zim-Asset’s objectives to increase power generation.

“These projects are expected to re-establish alternative power supply to water and sanitation facilities and improve reliability of power supply as a result of reinforcement of the sub-transmission and distribution networks,” said Minister Undenge.

“Criterion sub-station supplies Tuli water works, Solusi University as well as outlying areas which include Plumtree, Tsholotsho and Figtree. Mpopoma sub-station mainly supplies the Bulawayo industrial load including Mpilo Central Hospital, the major referral hospital for Matabeleland region.”

He said the Zim-Fund power distribution projects have benefited health institutions, schools, irrigation schemes and households in Inyathi, Plumtree, Hwange, Gwanda, Esigodini and Bulawayo.

He said a total of 5,6KM of underground power cables were laid on the feeders supplying United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) and Mpilo Central Hospital.

The Minister said since the establishment of the fund in 2010, electricity supply to the country has improved.

“The $40 million allocated to phase one covered projects in the whole power supply value chain of power generation, transmission and distribution. The project component includes power generation, sub transmission system reinforcement and distribution system reinforcement,” said the minister.

The African Development Bank’s (AFDB) acting resident representative Mary Monyau said 52 transformers, 15 of them in Bulawayo and surrounding areas were put up to replace vandalised ones.

“Through this intervention, a total of 3,124 additional customers can now be reached as a result of upgraded transformers. Meanwhile 2,435 customers whose transformers had been vandalised have now been put back on supplies. A total of 29KM of overhead lines was also stringed while a total of 5,53KM of old and unreliable underground cables were replaced in Bulawayo,” said Monyau.

She said the bank will continue to work with other development partners and the government to address impediments hampering economic recovery.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development Willard Manungo commended Zim-Fund’s development partners for their support, saying they have so far contributed $145 million for different projects in the country.

“Under the EPIRP, the ZETDC’s western region was allocated about $12, 6 million, of which $663,000 and $665,000 was utilised at Criterion and Mpopoma sub-stations. Public sector investment projects are being stalled by limited budgetary allocations due to tight liquidity conditions, depressed economic activity and constrained revenue flows to the Treasury,” said Manungo.

Tinayeshe Mutazu, the director of water resources in the Ministry of Environment, Water and Climate reiterated the importance of power in the transportation of water.

“Conversely, about eight percent of global energy is used for pumping, treating and transporting water. We therefore appreciate how these two work together to ensure food security, industrial development, access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation,” said Mutazu.

“I’m happy that under the first phase of the water projects supported by Zim-Fund, we were able to stabilise water and sewerage systems in Harare, Chitungwiza, Mutare, Masvingo, Kwekwe and Chegutu.”

Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs Cde Eunice Nomthandazo Moyo, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing George Mlilo, Zesa Holdings board chairman Herbert Murerwa, senior officials from the Australian Embassy, Zesa and its subsidiaries, AFDB, Zinwa and the Bulawayo City Council were also present at the commissioning ceremony.