From Shamva to Power Giants chief: The inspiring s...

From Shamva to Power Giants chief: The inspiring story of Engineer Edzai Kachirekwa

Edmore Zvinonzwa

“Imagine people who have always seen you doing menial jobs around the Kuwadzana and Mufakose hood hearing that you, of all people, have taken up degree studies in Electrical Engineering. No one believed me but that was the start of great things that God had planned for me,” said Shamva-born Engineer Edzai Kachirekwa who, without doubt, ranks as one of Zimbabwe’s youngest technocrats today.

Kachirekwa, who is married and has three kids with wife Evelyn Tinashe, grew up in Greendale, Harare, and was educated in Zimbabwe, completing his secondary education at Oriel Boys High School before proceeding to study for a degree in Electrical Engineering at Zesa National Training Centre, in collaboration with the University of Zimbabwe.

Kachirekwa, who is currently studying for a PhD concentrating on Nuclear Power Energy with Artic University in Russia, said that if all goes well, Zimbabwe might have its first nuclear power plant around 2025 as all negotiations are in place.

“I am currently the president of Afroeuresia Energy Centre – an international organisation being led by a Zimbabwean, and I am the founder of the organisation. We came up with the organisation so that we collaborate well with other countries, be it in Africa, Europe or Asia and also be at par with them. As of now, we are lagging behind a little bit but we are happy that we are doing something. When you are doing something, it simply means that you are going to achieve much better and the mileage we are getting, especially through Afroeuresia, is quite interesting,” Kachirekwa told Zim Now.

Kachirekwa, who is also national secretary-general of the Entrepreneurs Network of Zimbabwe - one of the biggest organisations representing all entrepreneurs in the country – said his appointment for that role is confirmation of the trust that Zimbabweans have in him.

The Power Giants Group Operations Director said he is also a leader in the construction industry where he is the director of Brown and Corbin Heavy Structure Projects, a construction company, which he founded about five years back as confirmation of his thrust on infrastructure development, especially in Zimbabwe.

Kachirekwa added that his 22 years’ stay in marriage has given him the experience to be a marriage counsellor. “My wife and I celebrated 22 years of marriage this year and I believe we have seen a lot. Marriage is not a simple institution, you get married and you get a certificate but the examinations for marriage, interestingly, come after you have received the certificate,” he said.

Kachirekwa has not just sat on his electrical engineering qualifications and went on to establish Power Giants, one of the fastest growing electrical engineering firms in the country.“Like the name suggests, Power Giants are real giants. We construct transmission power lines from 11 000 volts to 420 000 volts, that is, if we are in Zimbabwe but when we are outside Zimbabwe, we construct up to 765 000-volt power lines. We are also installers of solar systems and actually do the construction of solar grids, domestic, industrial, mining, agricultural and commercial installations, making sure there is power in those areas. We are energy specialists.

“We are heavily involved in the renewable energy sector and recently, I was recognised by Zim Trailblazers Awards as the Distinguished Clean Energy Champion in the country. We are actually contemplating putting about 4 000 megawatts of clean energy in Zimbabwe. I do radio and television programmes on renewable energy and I am encouraging every Zimbabwean, government, civil society and everyone else to ensure that every rooftop in Zimbabwe has solar so that all domestic energy demands cease to be the responsibility of government. That way, we then focus at ensuring there is energy for the mines and industry among other sectors.

“I am also advocating for decentralisation of power generation and we are happy that the government has also stepped in. We are also pushing for the phasing out of tail pipes, the fossil fuel-powered vehicles. We are aware we are still a bit far to reach that as of now because of some hindrances but we must control these gasses and move on to electric vehicles. So, with green energy, we are doing very well.

“However, every industry has its own challenges, you can never be the best if you do not have challenges. There used to be a time when the sector was dominated by certain individuals but now, there is an open playing field which the government has pushed for after they trained people like myself.

“The challenges were there but we are making sure we are countering them. As far as black empowerment is concerned, Zimbabwe has moved strides, especially in the energy sector. The good thing is that the challenges that were there are being solved by ourselves, with the support we are getting from the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company.

“ZETDC Acting Managing Director, Engineer Gurupira is one man who wants to see this country move forward. Of course, we should thank the government too because if they did not want us to grow, we would not. In the next 50 years, we envisage that we should be in 50 African countries and have a presence in all European and Asian countries because that is the drive that we have.

Kachirekwa added that as Power Giants, they also aim at creating employment directly or indirectly and our figure stands at 1 million globally. He also thanked Zimbabweans for standing by the side of Power Giants because of the trust they give the firm.

“I would also want to give special mention to my mentor, Mr Elias Hwenga and Mrs Hwenga and also Prophet Emmanuel Makandiwa and Prophetess Makandiwa – when I was down they helped me stand up again. Also, President Emmerson Mnangagwa deserves special thanks, he has made sure that we get projects. Also Small to Medium Enterprises

"Honourable Minister Senator Monica Mutsvangwa needs mention, trust me, within the next two years, you will see a major shift. She has begun the work of transforming entrepreneurs in this country, she has a vision for this country. The greatest person in my life, of course, is my wife stood with me for the past 22 years and supported my vision. Above all, I would like to thank the Almighty for all that he has done for me,” Kachirekwa told Zim Now.

**Power Giants Operations Director, Engineer Edzai Kachirekwa and wife, Evelyn Tinashe, who is Power Giants' Managing Director**

Kachirekwa, however, has a word for young Zimbabweans. “My message for young Zimbabweans is that the young generation must abstain from drugs, which have destroyed a generation in this country. Drugs have destroyed industry, there is no one to work in industry any more, they are busy with cocaine and all sorts of other drugs.

“We have lost a whole generation from 1998, but if you go to the graveyard, you will find some of them there. So, who is going to take care of Zimbabwe if we cannot contain this scourge. Who is responsible? It begins with me to say: No to drugs. Why are the drug lords being allowed to do what they doing? They should be ashamed of themselves, we cannot have 65% of our children smoking weed, which means 65% of GDP is gone as we no longer have human capital, we have killed it with drugs,” Kachirekwa said.