Villagers in Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe (UMP) district in Mashonaland East province have welcomed the commissioning of new electricity projects aimed at improving access to essential services and boosting rural economic activity.
The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) recently connected Matsenga Primary and Secondary schools in Uzumba, as well as two business centres in the Holgate area of Maramba-Pfungwe.
The electrification projects form part of government efforts to expand power infrastructure to rural communities, targeting schools, clinics and business centres to improve service delivery and stimulate economic development.
At Holgate business centre, more than 40 shops and other businesses are already benefiting from the project.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony on Thursday last week, Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs and Devolution minister Itayi Ndudzo hailed the government and REA for extending electricity to remote communities.
“Infrastructure that brings critical services to the people, such as clinics, schools and business centres, must be connected to electricity,” he said.
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“All this is happening in our province, thanks to the government, which is providing funds through the Rural Electrification Fund.
“The Rural Electrification Agency then uses that money to connect electricity to various areas in rural areas, as we are witnessing today.
Ndudzo said government recognised the critical role electricity played in transforming rural livelihoods.
“Government is well aware that electricity is key in terms of business and the transformation of people’s livelihoods. This is why this programme exists and I commend REA for its work,” he said.
He urged beneficiaries to protect the infrastructure from vandalism.
REA provincial manager Edward Kandare said the agency was working towards electrifying all public institutions in the province.
“We are running a programme to ensure that all public institutions — schools as well as clinics — are electrified by 2026,” he said.
“Today we have come to commission the electrification project of Matsenga Primary and Secondary schools, as well as the business centre.
“We started this project in February last year and it was completed in September. We constructed about three kilometres of powerline from Matsenga piggery to these institutions.”
Kandare said electricity was also extended to teachers’ houses and the administration block.
At Holgate business centre, REA constructed about 1,8 kilometres of high-voltage line.
“We installed a 200kVA substation which can supply power to more than 80 business shops at the centre,” he said.
“This business centre serves about 12 villages, meaning people can now access modern services powered by electricity.”
Both projects created employment opportunities for locals during the implementation period.
REA is working across Zimbabwe’s eight rural provinces to meet government’s 2026 target of providing electricity to all schools and rural health centres.
Energy and Power Development minister July Moyo recently directed REA to electrify all rural schools and clinics by the end of the year to bridge the gap between urban and rural areas and improve education and health services.
REA has electrified 8 356 schools and clinics out of the 10 771 located in rural areas since the agency’s inception in 2002. About 2 417 institutions remain and are targeted for completion by the end of this year.