News / National
Farmers urged to make payment plans for electricity
01 Nov 2015 at 07:50hrs | Views
THE MINISTER OF ENERGY AND POWER DEVELOPMENT Samuel Undenge has challenged the local farmers to pay for electricity debts they owe the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and distribution Company (ZETDC) to enable it to sustain the suppliers of power to the nation.
Speaking in parliament Undenge said the position is what had been proposed and implemented by ZETDC before as a ministry we are advised the continued implementation of the percentage debt deductions.
"Most farmers are now on post paid system and this means that for the debt, they have to make payment plans for clearing the outstanding obligations with ZETDC. For those who have prepaid meters, they are having the prepaid purchase standard 40% debt deduction on every purchase made, just like the domestic customers. There is no difference between the two categories of customers," he said.
"ZETDC has a ZIM ASSET target to install 800 000 prepaid meters by year 2018. To this end they have managed to install 551 000. Currently ZETDC does not have meters in stock to connect new customers and to finalise the retrofitting programme."
He said an additional 300 000 prepaid meters will be installed by 2018 at a cost of US$30 million.
"Progress to date; tender adjudication for 150 000 meters completed on 18 October, 2015. Adjudication report was submitted to SBP on 20th October 2015. Meters are therefore expected in February, 2016," Undenge said.
"In the interim as a Ministry we will facilitate direct purchase of 30 000 meters for interim relief."
Undenge said ZETDC has been engaging the tobacco and wheat farmers every month to find out areas of concern and to provide relief.
"For these two groups of farmers they have been given some days of uninterrupted load shedding days to assist with wheat-grain filling in the months of August to end of October and for tobacco planting week," he said.
"More information is required for consideration of the issue. However, at Siakobvu, there is electricity and the grid extension to Negande will be planned for by REA according to the funding availed for the next budget period. Hon. Speaker, this completes the question."
Undenge said it is the current Government's intention and programme to ensure that every part of Zimbabwe is electrified despite the existence of colonial agreements.
"We are not guided by colonial agreements. We are guided by our current policies of which every corner of Zimbabwe must be connected with electricity. Therefore, electricity is coming to Siakobvu irrespective of that colonial arrangement. We are not going to bring electricity to Siakobvu because of the colonial arrangement, it is because of the new current thrust to ensure that every household, every corner of Zimbabwe is electrified," he said.
"That is why the Rural Electrification Fund was created, simply to ensure that we roll out electricity to most parts of the country as soon as possible."
Speaking in parliament Undenge said the position is what had been proposed and implemented by ZETDC before as a ministry we are advised the continued implementation of the percentage debt deductions.
"Most farmers are now on post paid system and this means that for the debt, they have to make payment plans for clearing the outstanding obligations with ZETDC. For those who have prepaid meters, they are having the prepaid purchase standard 40% debt deduction on every purchase made, just like the domestic customers. There is no difference between the two categories of customers," he said.
"ZETDC has a ZIM ASSET target to install 800 000 prepaid meters by year 2018. To this end they have managed to install 551 000. Currently ZETDC does not have meters in stock to connect new customers and to finalise the retrofitting programme."
He said an additional 300 000 prepaid meters will be installed by 2018 at a cost of US$30 million.
"Progress to date; tender adjudication for 150 000 meters completed on 18 October, 2015. Adjudication report was submitted to SBP on 20th October 2015. Meters are therefore expected in February, 2016," Undenge said.
"In the interim as a Ministry we will facilitate direct purchase of 30 000 meters for interim relief."
Undenge said ZETDC has been engaging the tobacco and wheat farmers every month to find out areas of concern and to provide relief.
"For these two groups of farmers they have been given some days of uninterrupted load shedding days to assist with wheat-grain filling in the months of August to end of October and for tobacco planting week," he said.
"More information is required for consideration of the issue. However, at Siakobvu, there is electricity and the grid extension to Negande will be planned for by REA according to the funding availed for the next budget period. Hon. Speaker, this completes the question."
Undenge said it is the current Government's intention and programme to ensure that every part of Zimbabwe is electrified despite the existence of colonial agreements.
"We are not guided by colonial agreements. We are guided by our current policies of which every corner of Zimbabwe must be connected with electricity. Therefore, electricity is coming to Siakobvu irrespective of that colonial arrangement. We are not going to bring electricity to Siakobvu because of the colonial arrangement, it is because of the new current thrust to ensure that every household, every corner of Zimbabwe is electrified," he said.
"That is why the Rural Electrification Fund was created, simply to ensure that we roll out electricity to most parts of the country as soon as possible."
Source - Byo24News
