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Mobile network operators and power utility, Zimbabwe Electricity and Distribution Company (ZETDC) depend on each other for viability.
Speaking to Spiked Online Media during the ongoing Zimbabwe Agricultural Show (ZAS), Mr. Prosper Mutswiri from the ZETDC public relations unit alluded to the importance of a reciprocal interface between the power utility and MNOs in offering services to the citizenry.
“In everything that we do in our lives, the supply of energy is critical. Electricity supply powers our homes, schools, industries, farms, and clinics among other essentials. We are doing our best in ensuring that as ZETDC, we provide enough power to the people.
“The power utility, working with the government, through the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, is working towards providing efficient energy generation and/or production, transmission, distribution, and utilization,” Mr. Mutswiri said.
He made reference to the importance of efficiency practice in the energy supply and demand chain in pursuit of achieving socio-economic development.
“In doing our work, we recognize the important role played by mobile telephony companies, chief among them NetOne and Econet whose mobile financial services make it possible for our customers to purchase electricity online. Our relationship with MNOs is symbiotic. We need efficient mobile networks for the transacting public to pay electricity bills online. On the other hand, the MNOs depend on the availability of power to provide connectivity through the boosters,” he said.
Currently, Zimbabwe is experiencing an intermittent power supply situation characterized by supplementing through power imports and load shedding in order to protect the grid network.
The situation also compromises the ability of mobile network operators to provide reliable network connectivity.
However, there are policies and legislation developed with a view to ameliorating the situation. These include the National Energy Policy of 2012, the National Renewable Energy Policy of 2019, the National Biofuels policy of 2019, the Electricity Act of 2002, the Petroleum Act of 2006, the Rural Electrification Fund Act of 2003, the Energy Regulatory Act of 2011 among other various Statutory Instruments (SIs).
Meanwhile, the Acting Minister of Energy and Power Development, Dr. Jenfan Muswere, yesterday officially signed an agreement between the Government of Zimbabwe and Evergreen (Private) Limited.
The event marked an important and crucial milestone towards the development of yet another renewable energy project in the country.
“This agreement provides a framework for the development and connection of a one hundred megawatts (100MW) of solar photovoltaic power plant whose implementation will be done in phases,” Minister Muswere said.
Evergreen is a locally registered company with interests in infrastructural investments. Its commitment and capacity is demonstrated by the recent US$300 million Beitbridge Border Post Modernisation Project which has changed the face of that town.
The Public Private Partnership is in step with the government’s thrust and commitment to better the lives of citizens through infrastructural development, among which is electricity.