ELLEN MLAMBO
CHIPINGE TIMES REPORTER

CHIPINGE – The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) in partnership with the Commonwealth Development Office of the United Kingdom have injected US$1, 6 million in renewable energy projects that have transformed Hakwata community in Chipinge.
The village has been turned into a green area.
Speaking in an interview on the side-lines of the PRAZ workshop on public procurement and corporate governance held in Masvingo recently, Acting REA CEO, Felisters Makumbinde told The Mirror that 90 biogas digesters have been constructed under the project and these are benefitting 90 families.
The project has connected 105 households, a primary school, a clinic and a business centre to the solar powered mini grid and distributed solar home systems to various homesteads which are situated far from the solar mini grid.

Households are subsidised by 50% to have their houses connected to the mini grid.
Villagers have been trained in programmes that include carpentry, welding and hairdressing.
The funding is done through the United Nations Development Programme.
The Minister of Energy and Power Development, Edgar Moyo had a pre-visit to the projects on September 6 ahead of the commissioning by President Mnangagwa expected on October 3, 2024.
These projects started in Mat North.