Smart city plans in motion, Harare Mayor gets elec...

Smart city plans in motion, Harare Mayor gets electric car donation

Oscar J Jeke

Zim Now Reporter

The Mayor of Harare, Jacob Mafume, has received an electric car donation from the CMED Private Limited as the City, together with government, seeks to form partnership in accelerating climate change mitigation through adopting the use of electrical vehicles.

The donation comes as government is developing a National Electric Mobility Policy framework towards adoption and use of climate relative vehicles in Zimbabwe’s inland transport system.

Receiving the donation, Mayor Mafume said that there is work in progress to make sure that the city reduces emission caused by gasoline engine vehicles, adding that plans are in place for an all-electric taxi system in Harare.

“All taxis in Harare CBD will be electric in the future so as to reduce fuel bill and pollution. We will come up with a timetable as to when all taxis in town will be electric. People must not panic, it is not happening tomorrow.

“We will also come up with a way to allow individuals to finance and purchase the taxis, but where we go to, we have to make sure that all our taxis are electric, then with government for people to trade in their gasoline taxis and get the electric taxis,” said Mafume.

Mayor Mafume’s sentiments come as Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Felix Mhona noted the same addressing delegates at the 86th Session of the United Nations Inland Transport Committee, where he said that government has various projects in the pipeline that include adoption and incorporation of energy efficient transport sector policies and adoption of energy-efficient vehicular technologies.

He said plans are already in motion with government owned parastatal, CMED having accelerated the purchase and deployment of electric vehicles.

“It is an honour to contribute to this panel discussion on the topic: ‘Accelerating climate change mitigation in Inland Transport: Reaping synergies with urban development, environment and energy policies.’ As I contribute Zimbabwe’s perspective to this discussion, let me acknowledge the exceptional leadership of the ITC in steering its work.

“I wish to reiterate that Zimbabwe is committed to enhancing cooperation under the United Nations System, and to the adoption of international good practices and standards on all matters under the purview of the ITC,” Minister Mhona said.