The completion of a 120-kilowatt solar plant at Tshitulipasi Business Centre in Beitbridge by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has set the once marginalised community on a massive rural industrialisation pathway.
The completed plant has connected the local business centre, more than 40 homesteads and public institutions which include a clinic, a primary school, a police station, government sub-offices and community boreholes.
Among the early beneficiaries of the development is Tshitulipasi Clinic, where patients now receive care in improved conditions.
Mrs Tendai Gwenzi, a local resident, expressed her gratitude after delivering her baby boy in a well-lit facility.
“We are grateful for this development. In the past, one had to bring candles when giving birth. Now, we have power, and the environment is far more conducive,” she said.
Community leaders also hailed the impact of electrification on livelihoods and access to essential services.
“We are now confident that no place is being left behind. The arrival of electricity has truly transformed this area,” Village Head, Mr Samson Moyo said.
“We are excited as a community. Children are now learning with computers at school, and shops can operate without disruption. This is what rural industrialisation looks like,” Chairperson of the Tshitulipasi Solar Project, Mr Robert Hlongwani added.
“Our mission is to electrify all previously marginalised communities by 2030.
We want every village to access services such as welding equipment locally instead of travelling long distances. This project aligns with the President’s Vision 2030,” REA Public Relations Officer, Mr Johannes Nyamayedenga noted.
The commissioning of the solar power plant stands as a clear demonstration of the Second Republic’s commitment to inclusive development, anchored in the national development mantra of leaving no one and no place behind.
As the nation moves towards achieving an upper-middle income economy by 2030, projects such as the Tshitulipasi Solar Plant are proving instrumental in bridging the rural-urban development divide.
