Mugabe not spared on power cuts

The First Family has not been spared from escalating power outages that have gripped the country as it has seen some of its domestic electrical gadgets being damaged owing to load shedding, First Lady Grace Mugabe, has said. She said the power cuts that have been caused by reduced power generation has left her counting losses after high voltage accompanying the return of power damaged her gadgets.

The First Lady said this on Saturday at Murehwa Growth Point in Mashonaland East province where she addressed Zanu-PF supporters as part of her nationwide meetings with the people. "We know that electricity load shedding has worsened. Even this morning when I was dressing power was cut. I'm saying this because some think that we're spared from power cuts.

"We're also cut off. Some of our appliances are damaged as a result," she said. She said the government was working tirelessly to address electricity challenges through inviting independent power producers. This, she said, was in fulfilment of the government's economic blue-print, Zim-Asset's cluster on infrastructure and utilities.

She said despite the existence of illegal sanctions by the European Union and the United States, the government has not folded its arms but has come up with several innovative ways to ward off the effects of the embargo. The government is set to engage consultants on the development of an independent power producer (IPP) policy for the country.

A number of IPPs had been engaged by the government to develop new energy projects but are yet to bear fruit. In a statement yesterday, the Ministry of Energy and Power Development invited consultants to produce an IPP policy to establish market-oriented measures and regulatory instruments for private suppliers in the electricity sub-sector in the country.

The ministry said the consultant would provide recommendations within the current and proposed energy market designs taking into consideration the proposed regional IPP framework.

"The consultancy work involves carrying out a background analysis, identifying and analysing regulatory and institutional barriers to private players or IPP to investment in Zimbabwe's sub-sector, outlining various options for incentive measures and their potential impact in implementation scenarios," reads part of the statement.

"This will form the basis for IPP investment in the electricity sub-sector that will promote competition at generation level so as to improve efficiency of the electricity supply industry," It is expected to review case studies and international experience in setting up policy framework to support investment in grid based and off grid renewable and non-renewable electricity generation.

"The review will help the consultant to develop strategies that will increase the participation of IPPs in Zimbabwe. Through the guidance of the government the consultant shall develop a draft IPP policy. The policy should lay out all technical, institutional, financial and legal issues for encouraging the participation of IPPs," the statement said.

The consultant is expected to start work within six months.