Project Switch-On ceremony
Energy and Power Development minister, Hon July Moyo has commissioned the Malembeja and Negande Electrification project in Kariba district, Mashonaland West province. The project undertaken by the Rural Electrification Fund (REF) includes two primary and one secondary schools, a business centre, a rural health centre and Chief Negande’s homestead.In a speech read on his behalf by the permanent secretary, Eng Gloria Magombo, Hon Moyo said the coming of electricity in the village, 18 km southwest of Siakobvu Service Centre was set to improve the way of living of the once disadvantaged community. He encouraged the benefiting community to take advantage of electricity and start business projects.“The electricity installed now offers opportunities for economic development in these electrified communities,” said the minister.
“Villagers can now run various projects such as welding, grinding mills, irrigation farming, carpentry and creating new business ventures such as battery charging stations and internet cafes,” he added. Hon Moyo said the commissioning of electricity was a special day for the Malembeja and Negande community, who, despite being in the vicinity of the largest source of hydro power in the country and with some villagers having been displaced from their original homes to pave way for the construction of Kariba Dam, did not have access to the energy generated from the power station since its completion in the period between 1954 and 1959.
Scores of villagers and top government officials from Kariba and Karoi as well as staff from the rural district council attended the ceremony.
Hon Moyo said the commissioning of electricity was a special day for the Malembeja and Negande community, who, despite being in the vicinity of the largest source of hydro power in the country and with some villagers having been displaced from their original homes to pave way for the construction of Kariba Dam, did not have access to the energy generated from the power station since its completion in the period between 1954 and 1959.