Chivayo’s Gwanda Solar Project Worsening Power Gen...

Chivayo’s Gwanda Solar Project Worsening Power Generation Shortage: Minister Moyo

Nyashadzashe Ndoro

Chief Reporter

The Minister of Energy and Power Development, Edgar Moyo, has acknowledged that the delay in the Gwanda Solar Project, awarded to Intratek Zimbabwe owned by Wicknell Chivayo, is exacerbating the country's power generation deficit.

Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday last week, Moyo stated, "The power that we could be benefiting from that project if that project had taken place would have assisted us in reducing the current deficit. That is agreed."

The project, which was awarded in 2015, has faced numerous delays, contract termination, and fraud allegations. However, after a lengthy trial, Intratek and Chivayo were acquitted, and the Supreme Court ruled in their favour, ordering the Zimbabwe Power Company to honour the contract.

Moyo cited that the ball is now in the court of ZPC, ZESA Holdings, and Intratek to move forward with the project.

"The Gwanda Solar Project has generated a lot of interest and it is something that the ZPC and the developer are working on. As you may be aware, there have been a lot of problems that have caused delays and since some of the issues are still pending in the courts, I may be limited to say more than what I have done. The project, through a court ruling, was supposed to go ahead and I think there are still a bit of issues here and there but the focus is that the project has to materialise," the Minister noted.

"On the power generation deficit, I spoke about earlier on especially with reference to the Chivayo issue as exacerbating the problem that we have. True that is so. The power that we could be benefiting from that project if that project had taken place would have assisted us in reducing the current deficit. That is agreed. On the logistics of going forward, I indicated that the ball now is between ZPC, ZESA Holdings and Intratek. That is how far I can go."

The Gwanda Solar Project has the potential to generate 100MW of power, which would significantly reduce the country's power deficit.

In addition to the Gwanda Solar Project, Minister Moyo highlighted other initiatives aimed at addressing the power deficit, including power purchase agreements with ESKOM and EDM Mozambique, as well as investments in small hydros and multi-purpose dams.

The Minister also stressed the need for awareness on the effects of cable theft and the importance of net metering in generating excess power.

Zimbabwe continues to grapple with power shortages. The situation has affected the economy, especially the mining and manufacturing industries.

Chivayo and his estranged business partners Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu are also involved in the alleged corrupt US$100 million Zimbabwe Electoral Commission tender. The scandal reportedly involves numerous government bigwigs.