The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has intensified efforts to connect rural schools and health centres to the national grid and standalone solar systems in Matabeleland provinces as it races to meet a government directive to electrify all such institutions by the end of 2026.
An update from the agency showed that multiple projects are already under construction across Matabeleland North, while groundwork is being finalised for additional sites set to be rolled out in the coming months.
REA public relations and marketing executive, Johannes Nyamayedenga, revealed that the agency is prioritising education and health institutions as part of efforts to improve service delivery in marginalised communities.
“We have Lupane District where we have four projects which are ongoing,” he said.
“They are under construction and we have Jengwe Primary School, Sagonda Primary and Secondary School, Makuni Primary School and Business Centre, and Zinaphi Primary School. These projects are being implemented.”
In Hwange, three projects are also underway.
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“In Hwange we have three projects that are being implemented which are Chewumba Primary School, Lupinyu Primary School and Bambamkhulu Secondary School,” he added.
Nyamayedenga said in Umguza district, Mangwabi Primary School and Heloka Primary School have also been lined up for electrification.
REA has also identified several additional schools where preliminary processes such as wayleave clearance, a key step that allows infrastructure development on designated land, are underway.
“We also have schools which have been identified where we are doing the surveys — wayleave clearance. In Lupane we have identified five schools, Nkayi one school, and Tsholotsho one school,” he said.
“In Tsholotsho, council has approved the wayleave clearances for six schools where we will start work soon.”
In Matabeleland South, Nyamayedenga said progress is being made on a larger scale, with several institutions already at advanced stages of electrification.
“In Matabeleland South, we have 17 institutions which are in progress and what we are doing is tubing,” he said, referring to the installation of electrical infrastructure.
He noted that some of the projects are being funded using resources carried over from the previous year, with a strict timeline in place.
“There are some projects which REA is doing with money which remained last year, and all these projects should be completed before year end because we have a target to electrify all schools and clinics before the end of the year,” Nyamayedenga said.
The rural electrification programme is expected to significantly improve learning conditions, access to digital technologies and healthcare services in remote areas, where lack of electricity has long hindered development.