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Great Zimbabwe Hydro-Power, Lake Mutirikwi ready for NDS-2
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MASVINGO - The Great Zimbabwe Hydro-power plant at Lake Mutirikwi and other prominent sites are ready to continue transforming several communities within and outside Masvingo province, while the country seeks to fully realise an economic transition from the about-to-end first phase (National Development Strategy-1) into second episode (National Development Strategy-2) which starts next year in January 2026.
Speaking during the ongoing provincial tour and projects profiling at the new US$16 million (+/-) worth 5 MegaWatt (5MW) Mutirikwi hydro electric power station, the site manager for Great Zimbabwe Hydro Power Company, Engineer Austen Chiboora told journalists that completion of the project has seen various transformations amongst communities in the province.
"This project and other related developments have helped in transforming livelihoods amongst communities within the province and other areas. It has also witnessed a surge in local tourism since some tourists have begun to flock in for both leisure and domestic tourism promotion in this area," Engineer Chiboora said.
"During its construction up to completion, the process ensured employing from locals in terms of labour and other necessities which ensured that communities were and are still involved mostly. It therefore entails empowering local communities and the creation of employment for locals," Engineer Chiboora added.
"As Great Zimbabwe Hydro-power project, we saw it important to apply what we call beneficial use of water so that when flows out of the dam, it will pass through our machines and we manage to generate electricity. It just passes through the machines and in that process generates electricity, so we don't take any drop from the water. From there it flows downstream for irrigation use in the Lowveld areas," Engineer Chiboora added.
"We worked closely with the local traditional leaders within the province and consult where necessary in terms of development and other related operational procedures and their contribution has been crucial towards realisation of these achievements. Some ancillary industries including fishing, irrigations, tourism and trade have been witnessed at Lake Mutirikwi and Great Zimbabwe Hydro-power project, which is part of the national development strategies," Engineer Chiboora said.
Speaking at the inaugural National Competitiveness Commission (NCC) Competitiveness Summit in Bulawayo this week, President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced that Zimbabwe is shifting to another level under the National Development Strategies, with its second phase being anchored on higher value addition and industrialisation expected to surge annually from US$4 billion to US$10 billion.
“As you are aware, the first edition of the National Development Strategy is coming to an end in 2025. Efforts are underway to develop the successor programme, the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS-2),” Mnangagwa said.
“This is set to be anchored on fiscal discipline, macro-economic stability, as well as robust trade and investment, as critical drivers for improving productivity and competitiveness," he added.
“The NDS-2 will prioritise value addition and industrialisation, particularly in the manufacturing sector. The aim is to increase the sector’s value from the current US$4 billion to over US$10 billion, through a strategic focus on value chains in different sectors,” Mnangagwa told delegates.
The NDS-2 will be realised in the wake of NDS-1, which spans from 2021 to December 2025, which is within the confines of the broader strategy to achieve Vision 2030.
Last year, the Government launched a consultative process to evaluate major economic activities across the country, and the feedback is being used to guide the formulation of NDS-2.
Cabinet has also approved the roadmap for NDS-2 in September last year, while recognising achievements made under NDS-1, including fiscal consolidation, reforms in monetary policy, liberalisation of the foreign exchange market, structural and governance reforms, infrastructure development, engagement, and re-engagement initiatives, investment promotion and support for productive sectors.
The NDS-1 has already delivered several critical infrastructure projects, including the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway rehabilitation, road rehabilitation across rural and urban areas under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme, upgrading public amenities, such as recreational facilities in schools and ICT kiosks in both urban and rural areas.
Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Ezra Chadzamira has recently pronounced that no-one under his province will starve as part of the government's efforts to ensure the country is food secure.
"All the dams in Masvingo have recorded 100% full of water, with rain continuing to pour. We are expecting a good harvest this year and according to projections, Masvingo will be food secure," Minister Chadzamira said.
"Our dams will ensure efficient water supply amongst all irrigations throughout the province and sustain food security again during the 2024/25 agricultural and farming mechanisation period," Chadzamira added then.
"As part of the government's devolution programme, we will make sure everyone has enough food, benefit from their local resources, heritage sites and natural endowments; and benefit from empowerment initiatives. We have several projects throughout the province from which the government is looking forward to fully realise NDS1 which transcends into the second episode of NDS2 spanning from January 2026," Chadzamira said.
Speaking during the ongoing provincial tour and projects profiling at the new US$16 million (+/-) worth 5 MegaWatt (5MW) Mutirikwi hydro electric power station, the site manager for Great Zimbabwe Hydro Power Company, Engineer Austen Chiboora told journalists that completion of the project has seen various transformations amongst communities in the province.
"This project and other related developments have helped in transforming livelihoods amongst communities within the province and other areas. It has also witnessed a surge in local tourism since some tourists have begun to flock in for both leisure and domestic tourism promotion in this area," Engineer Chiboora said.
"During its construction up to completion, the process ensured employing from locals in terms of labour and other necessities which ensured that communities were and are still involved mostly. It therefore entails empowering local communities and the creation of employment for locals," Engineer Chiboora added.
"As Great Zimbabwe Hydro-power project, we saw it important to apply what we call beneficial use of water so that when flows out of the dam, it will pass through our machines and we manage to generate electricity. It just passes through the machines and in that process generates electricity, so we don't take any drop from the water. From there it flows downstream for irrigation use in the Lowveld areas," Engineer Chiboora added.
"We worked closely with the local traditional leaders within the province and consult where necessary in terms of development and other related operational procedures and their contribution has been crucial towards realisation of these achievements. Some ancillary industries including fishing, irrigations, tourism and trade have been witnessed at Lake Mutirikwi and Great Zimbabwe Hydro-power project, which is part of the national development strategies," Engineer Chiboora said.
Speaking at the inaugural National Competitiveness Commission (NCC) Competitiveness Summit in Bulawayo this week, President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced that Zimbabwe is shifting to another level under the National Development Strategies, with its second phase being anchored on higher value addition and industrialisation expected to surge annually from US$4 billion to US$10 billion.
“As you are aware, the first edition of the National Development Strategy is coming to an end in 2025. Efforts are underway to develop the successor programme, the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS-2),” Mnangagwa said.
“This is set to be anchored on fiscal discipline, macro-economic stability, as well as robust trade and investment, as critical drivers for improving productivity and competitiveness," he added.
“The NDS-2 will prioritise value addition and industrialisation, particularly in the manufacturing sector. The aim is to increase the sector’s value from the current US$4 billion to over US$10 billion, through a strategic focus on value chains in different sectors,” Mnangagwa told delegates.
The NDS-2 will be realised in the wake of NDS-1, which spans from 2021 to December 2025, which is within the confines of the broader strategy to achieve Vision 2030.
Last year, the Government launched a consultative process to evaluate major economic activities across the country, and the feedback is being used to guide the formulation of NDS-2.
Cabinet has also approved the roadmap for NDS-2 in September last year, while recognising achievements made under NDS-1, including fiscal consolidation, reforms in monetary policy, liberalisation of the foreign exchange market, structural and governance reforms, infrastructure development, engagement, and re-engagement initiatives, investment promotion and support for productive sectors.
The NDS-1 has already delivered several critical infrastructure projects, including the Harare-Masvingo-Beitbridge Highway rehabilitation, road rehabilitation across rural and urban areas under the Emergency Road Rehabilitation Programme, upgrading public amenities, such as recreational facilities in schools and ICT kiosks in both urban and rural areas.
Minister of State for Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Ezra Chadzamira has recently pronounced that no-one under his province will starve as part of the government's efforts to ensure the country is food secure.
"All the dams in Masvingo have recorded 100% full of water, with rain continuing to pour. We are expecting a good harvest this year and according to projections, Masvingo will be food secure," Minister Chadzamira said.
"Our dams will ensure efficient water supply amongst all irrigations throughout the province and sustain food security again during the 2024/25 agricultural and farming mechanisation period," Chadzamira added then.
"As part of the government's devolution programme, we will make sure everyone has enough food, benefit from their local resources, heritage sites and natural endowments; and benefit from empowerment initiatives. We have several projects throughout the province from which the government is looking forward to fully realise NDS1 which transcends into the second episode of NDS2 spanning from January 2026," Chadzamira said.
Source - Byo24news
