Gwanda's long wait for Chivayo

The 262-hectare site earmarked for the Gwanda Solar Power Plant, a US$172.8 million project awarded nearly a decade ago, has degenerated into a neglected expanse where children play football and residents dump waste. When Southern Eye visited the area in Matabeleland South, the fence surrounding the site was partly vandalised, with sections cut open to allow villagers to pass through en route to Matshetsheni. Beyond the damaged gates, there was little to suggest the presence of a project that once promised to transform electricity supply in the region.

In 2015, the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) awarded the contract to Intratrek Zimbabwe, led by businessman Wicknell Chivayo, in partnership with China's ChiNT Electric, to construct a 100-megawatt solar plant. The initiative was touted as a game-changer, expected to feed much-needed electricity into the national grid and alleviate persistent power shortages in Matabeleland South.

Nearly ten years later, the site remains a fenced bush, surrounded by legal disputes and unmet expectations. Ward 10 councillor Siyanda Siziba said residents felt betrayed by the prolonged inaction. "The people are in pain about this issue because it's a project they looked forward to and wanted to see succeed," Siziba said. "Gwanda doesn't have enough land, and yet that area is just fenced bush, pegged and left like that. We don't have accommodation, but that land is wasted. All this is not assisting us as Gwanda."

The councillor highlighted the broader impact on local communities, noting that ongoing darkness has worsened crime rates, particularly in Spitzkop, where more than 3,000 residents live without electricity. "Criminals come and hide there, others rent accommodation - sometimes 15 people squeeze into one house. Many who run there are coming to engage in criminal activities. We also hoped the project would bring jobs to the people of Gwanda. That has not happened," Siziba said.

Following the contract signing, ZPC released about US$5 million for preliminary works, yet little tangible progress was achieved. ZPC eventually terminated the contract, citing non-performance, prompting Intratrek to take the matter to court. In December 2023, the Supreme Court upheld a High Court ruling that the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) contract remained binding, obliging ZPC either to allow Intratrek to continue or face damages of up to US$22 million. Energy ministry officials have since mentioned the possibility of "re-engaging" with Intratrek, potentially adjusting project costs and timelines.

For residents, however, such pronouncements have become empty promises. Gwanda mayor Thulani Moyo stressed that the local authority has no control over the project. "That is a government project, not ours," Moyo said. Despite millions already disbursed, there is still no electricity, no employment opportunities, and no definitive timeline for completion.

For communities in Gwanda, the abandoned site is a daily reminder of unfulfilled commitments. What was meant to illuminate homes and streets has instead left residents in darkness, vulnerable to crime and economic hardship. "We hoped this project would bring light to Gwanda town. Today, we are still in the dark," Siziba lamented.