CABINET yesterday deliberated on the country’s crippling power situation following the announcement that electricity generation at Kariba Power Station must stop due to declining water levels, with the Minister of Energy and Power Development, Zhemu Soda set to issue a detailed statement on the matter soon.
For the past few weeks, the country has recorded an increase in load shedding resulting in most areas going for long hours without electricity.
The situation worsened this week following the directive that Zimbabwe Power Company should halt electricity generation at Kariba Hydro Power Station by the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA).
ZRA administers the Kariba Dam on behalf of Zambia and Zimbabwe and it stated that water storage at the dam is at 4,6 percent of capacity, below the levels needed to run power generation operations at the Kariba South Bank power station.
ZRA ordered the immediate halting of power generation at Kariba Hydro Power Station until next year.
Briefing the media after the Cabinet meeting, Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere, said:
“Cabinet deliberated on the issue of Zimbabwe’s energy and power supply. A detailed statement on the matter will be issued by the Minister of Energy and Power Development, Honourable Zhemu Soda, as soon as consultations are finalised.”
Meanwhile, Cabinet noted that preparations for the 2022/23 farming season were in full scale and 70 percent of farmers have received puts.
Dr Muswere said the country has received significant rains in most parts of the country which has seen more farmers planting.
“Inputs distribution, registration and training on Pfumvudza/Intwasa are in progress, with distribution continuing to be done according to agro-ecological zone requirements. Cabinet highlights that 82 percent (58 958 metric tonnes) of the received basal fertilizer has been distributed across the provinces, while 69 percent (14 297 metric tonnes) of the received top dressing fertiliser have been distributed. Planting has commenced in many areas,” said Dr Muswere.
He said financial institutions such as the Agricultural Finance Company Holdings (AFC) and Commercial Bank of Zimbabwe (CBZ) have also started registering farmers for inputs under the the National Enhanced Agricultural Productivity Scheme (NEAPS).
Dr Muswere said CBZ is targeting to support maize (150 000 hectares) and soya beans (20 000 hectares), while AFC is targeting 65 000 hectares – maize (55 000 hectares), soya beans 5 000 hectares), traditional grains (2 000 hectares) and sunflower (3 000 hectares).
“Cabinet would like to highlight the following areas planted for the major crops: maize, 95 593 hectares compared to 33 119 hectares at the same time of the previous season; soya beans, 1 415 hectares compared to 677 hectares at the same time of the previous season; sorghum, 2 570 hectares against 756 hectares the previous season; cotton, 518 hectares and tobacco, 53 571 hectares versus 38 312 hectares at the same time of the previous season,” said Dr Muswere.
He said at a total of 291 750 chickens and 3 158 goats have been distributed under the Presidential Rural Poultry and Goat schemes, respectively.
Dr Muswere said Government drilled 67 boreholes within two weeks across the country to increase access to water in rural communities.
He said this has seen 435 boreholes being drilled under the borehole drilling programme.
Dr Muswere said Government was in the process of addressing concerns relating to planned settlements without adequate basic services at Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle areas across the country.
He said 16 Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle settlements were being attended to include the one in Lupane in Matabeleland North and Gwanda in Matabeleland South.
“Highlights include the commencement of works at the Lupane Local Board Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle site and the completion of engineering designs for onsite infrastructure such as sewer and roads at the Gwanda Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle site,” he said.
Dr Muswere said Government sternly warns against the sprouting of illegal settlements on State-owned land.
He said strict action will be taken against those, including leaders, who are found in clear breach of the country’s rural and urban land use laws.
Dr Muswere said Government has arrested several land barons for theft of State land.
“Regarding the investigation and prosecution of land barons, the public is informed that a total of 347 arrests were made, and 91 cases are before the courts, while 57 have since been finalised, with 6 convictions having been secured. Accordingly, devolution funds will be availed to the Harare City Council and other urban municipalities for the purpose of strengthening the local authorities’ law enforcement capacity,” said Dr Muswere.
He said Government will also review laws governing police and municipal security guards while establishing municipal courts to deal with the issue of land barons. – The Chronicle
