The solar panels provided an alternative source of energy in the developmentally marginalized district. Electricity poles and copper cables are piled high at Chikwizo Primary School waiting to connect Nyamande with Gozi Business Centre under ZESA’s rural electrification programme.
“The poles were brought here way back in 2004 when former Mashonaland East resident minister Ray Kaukonde was still MP for our area. He had promised to electrify all the schools, clinics and chiefs’ homesteads. This would have gone a long way towards providing lights at Gozi primary and secondary schools as well as the clinic,” said Chief Chikwizo.
He added that nurses were delivering babies by candlelight and the pass rate in schools was suffering as children were not able to study after dark.
“The situation had improved following solar panels that were installed by REA. Our students were able to study at night. However the electronic batteries that power these panels are no longer working and REA is not coming to maintain them citing lack of money for fuel,” the Chief complained.
Post published in: News