BY FARAI MACHAMIRE

Zimbabweans face at least two more years of power shortages as the government works to stabilize electricity generation and meet demand, the Minister of Energy and Power Development, Edgar Moyo, has revealed.

The country’s daily power generation currently averages 1,232 megawatts (MW) against a demand of 1,735 MW, with imports and load-shedding bridging the shortfall.

Speaking in Parliament (Senate) on Wednesday and quoted on ZimLive, Moyo painted a grim picture of the nation’s energy landscape but assured citizens that ongoing and upcoming projects would eventually close the gap.

“The refurbishment of Hwange Power Station’s Unit 5 will add 160 MW to the national grid by August 2026, helping address the electricity shortfall,” he said. Additionally, Unit 7 at Hwange will undergo maintenance in January 2025 to ensure its long-term efficiency.

However, Moyo highlighted a 68.75% increase in water allocation for power generation in 2025, stemming from an anticipated above-normal rainfall season.

“This will significantly increase power availability next year,” he noted.

A recent nationwide blackout on November 24 disrupted the fragile energy system, with power restored after seven hours. The cause of the disturbance is still under investigation.

To mitigate load-shedding, the government plans to rely on Independent Power Producers (IPPs), which currently contribute over 200 MW, and accelerate renewable energy projects like solar farms. Projects such as the Batoka Gorge Hydro Electric Plant, with a potential capacity of 1,200 MW, and the Devils Gorge Hydro Project, expected to generate 600 MW, are also in development.

“The repowering of Hwange units 1 to 6 over the next 48 to 60 months will restore the station’s capacity to 840 MW, significantly stabilizing the power supply,” Moyo said.

On nuclear energy, the minister disclosed that the government is exploring prospects with Russia’s ROSATOM and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Thirty Zimbabwean students are currently training in nuclear physics abroad as part of the initiative.

Despite these efforts, Moyo acknowledged the challenges ahead. “Without significant interventions, the forecast demand of 1,735 MW will continue to outstrip supply, resulting in ongoing load curtailment,” he said.

Zimbabwe’s path to reliable electricity hinges on the successful completion of these projects and the implementation of efficient energy policies. For now, the nation must brace for continued power outages.

The prolonged outages, now extending to 18-hours a day, have taken a toll on households and industries, affecting productivity and increasing operational costs for businesses reliant on backup power. Critics argue that the government’s reliance on imports and promises of future projects have not eased the immediate burden on citizens.

SOURCE: ZIMLIVE

BY NYASHA CHINGONO 

Zimbabwe’s government expects economic growth to accelerate to 6% in 2025 from 2% this year, helped by improved agricultural output and power generation as the country recovers from a severe drought, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said on Thursday.

Ncube added in a budget speech that the budget deficit was seen at 0.4% of gross domestic product next year versus 1.4% this year.

Like other countries in southern Africa, Zimbabwe’s economy was dealt a blow by an El Nino-induced drought which depressed food production and hydroelectric power supply.

Weaker lithium and platinum prices also weighed on its mining sector.

Ncube told lawmakers in parliament that the agriculture sector was projected to grow 12.8% in 2025 following a 15.0% contraction this year, while mining growth is seen accelerating to 5.6% next year from 2.3% in 2024.

Zimbabwe’s long-running currency problems persisted in 2024 as policymakers dumped the Zimdollar in April and replaced it with the ZiG, or Zimbabwe Gold, that has also slumped since its launch.

Ncube said without elaborating further that the government would next year seek to encourage greater acceptance of the ZiG by a sceptical public, who still use foreign currencies like the dollar for the bulk of local transactions.

SOURCE:REUTERS

 BY BRENDA NCUBE

In the heart of Matabeleland North’s Hwange district, wildlife conservation has become a contentious issue.

While the area is renowned for its rich biodiversity and generating substantial revenue, local communities are struggling to reap the benefits.

For communal farmers like Binwell Sibanda, the presence of wild animals has become a constant threat to their livelihoods.

“We rely heavily on farming, but these animals destroy our crops and livestock every year,” Sibanda lamented.

“We expect National Parks and CAMPFIRE (Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources) to control wildlife and not let them roam freely in communal areas.”

Nicholas Tembo, another affected farmer, emphasized the need for compensation for losses incurred due to human-wildlife conflict. “We should be reimbursed for our losses if wildlife destroys our crops or kills livestock,” he said.

The communities are also demanding that park authorities take responsibility in cases of human-wildlife attacks, including paying medical bills, funeral expenses, and supporting victims’ dependents.

Furthermore, the villagers are advocating for a quota for game meat to alleviate hunger and reduce poaching. “The park rangers can cull the animals and share the meat with the community,” Tembo suggested.

However, the communities are frustrated with CAMPFIRE, feeling that the program benefits the association running it rather than the communities themselves.

They are calling for CAMPFIRE to devise programs that channel funds from hunting trophies to benefit the communities, such as rural electrification and drilling boreholes.

The villagers are also seeking a more nuanced approach to addressing poaching, considering the motivations behind it. “If someone is caught poaching or snaring, the law should consider what they plan to do with the animal,” Tembo said.

As the debate surrounding the Parks and Wildlife Amendment Bill (H.B.1, 2024) continues, communities are keep on voicing concerns over compensation for victims of wildlife attacks and seeking clarity on how the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority plans to handle these compensations.

They are also demanding sovereignty over wildlife management, advocating for local authorities to take the lead.

Amidst the thriving tourism activities in the area, it is ironic that communities bordering national parks live in poverty. As Tembo emphasized, “It’s time for us to benefit from wildlife conservation and tourism.”