Editorial Comment: Leaving no one behind

02 Oct, 2020 - 00:10 0 Views
Editorial Comment: Leaving no one behind

The ManicaPost

The 2012 census indicated that Zimbabwe had a population of just over 13 million, with 67 percent residing in rural areas.

The report went on to highlight that 56 percent of all Zimbabwean households had no access to electricity, with almost 70 percent of them using wood for cooking.

Eight years later, some strides have been made in correcting this anomaly. While a lot still needs to be done in terms of rural electrification, a lot of ground has and is still being covered by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) following its establishment in 2002.

The Agency is mandated to provide adequate, reliable, affordable and environmentally sustainable energy services in Zimbabwe’s rural areas and it is doing exactly that.

In Manicaland only, REA has electrified close to 2 000 institutions since its establishment in 2002. More are expected as momentum gathers around Vision 2030.

The provision of modern energy services in rural areas, which include both grid electrification and off-grid options, is particularly important right now as Zimbabwe works towards attaining an upper-middle income economy by 2030.

Indeed as Zimbabwe’s National Energy Policy rightly notes, “There is a direct correlation between the level of a country’s development and the quality and quantity of its energy services.”

Energy is therefore a pre-requisite for development. It is an enabler for economic and social development.

The wheels of the economy, including the manufacturing, mining and agricultural sectors, among others, cannot turn in the absence of energy.

Manicaland province is huge on irrigation and agro-processing. Its vast tea, timber and banana plantations rely on electricity-pumped irrigation water while food processing and canning companies in the province also heavy consumers of electricity contribute significantly to the country’s Gross Domestic Product.

But while the uptake of solar and electricity has been huge countrywide, provision of other modern energy services needs to be promoted. The usage of biogas, for example, remains marginal despite the availability of animal and human waste in rural areas.

More biogas plants should therefore be considered as they will assist in environmental conservation and reduced deforestation.

The same applies to wind energy. Most rural areas experience a steady wind speed that can easily be harnessed to pump water to households or fields.

This is a clean energy option that remains underutilised. Access to these affordable energy options will lead to the empowerment of the rural communities and the alleviation of their poverty, which will subsequently lead to social equity.

Most importantly, access to energy has the potential to improve the quality of life in rural areas.

With most schools electrified and connected to internet services, teachers will be happier to work in the serene rural environments.

Due to rural electrification, health facilities are now also connected to the power grid, with most cases no longer having to be referred to district or provincial hospitals.

As a result, the child mortality rate has significantly tumbled down as expecting mothers are now giving birth in well-lit and conducive environments.

In the same vein, handling of medicinal drugs and vaccines has been made easier in rural health centres as refrigeration is no longer a nightmare.

However, while the programme has enabled the electrification of thousands of rural learning and health institutions, farms, boreholes and irrigation schemes, it is crucial to note that electrification of villages remain low.

While the rural landscape carries a significant density of electricity lines, they are predominantly benefiting institutions rather than villages. Therefore, the bulk of villages remain un-electrified.

The Agency should therefore spearhead equitable electrification of rural areas in Zimbabwe. Private sector participation is encouraged in the rural electrification program.

Where REA is finding the going tough, private players can come in with investments. The energy sector is one of the most lucrative areas to consider and there is enough space for every serious investor.

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