Bitterness, anger over stalled 100 MW Gwanda solar project

07 May, 2021 - 00:05 0 Views
Bitterness, anger over stalled 100 MW Gwanda solar project Minister Ncube

eBusiness Weekly

Golden Sibanda 

AS the 100 Megawatt Gwanda solar project stares at the seemingly inevitable prospect of becoming another monumental failure, the leadership of Matabeleland South is bitterly angry over unfulfilled promises on the project.  

This comes against the backdrop of eternal delays and time it has taken for the 100 megawatt solar project to register progress since the contractor, Intratrek Zimbabwe and Zesa, inked a contract in October 2014. 

The State power utility, Zesa Holdings, has tried without success to terminate the contract citing failure by the contractor to deliver on targets in time as agreed in the contract, but its bid has faced countless legal hurdles.   

The developer, Intratrek Zimbabwe, argues that although it was paid US$5 million for pre-commencement works, it failed to meet agreed targets because Zesa did not fulfil its obligations to ensure progress. 

Attempts by Zesa to terminate the contract hit a brick wall in 2019 after the High Court declared the contract for Gwanda solar was valid and extant; directing the feuding parties to negotiate a fresh way forward. 

Apart from its little to no success in cancelling the contract for Gwanda, Zesa has also not succeeded on attempts to lay criminal charges against Intratrek director, Wicknell Chivayo and ex-ZPC chair Stanley Kazhanje. 

The State power utility is still pursuing criminal charges relating to alleged corrupt conduct, in the awarding of the multimillion dollar tender for Gwanda solar, against both Chivayo and Kazhanje, at the High Court. 

However, although discussions over a restated contract to find a way forward as directed by the High Court, are ongoing, they are progressing at snail’s pace pending conclusion of cases before the courts of law. 

This means that there will be little to nothing, as far as the progression of Gwanda solar is concerned, until the pending court cases have been completely finalised, although Zimbabwe faces crippling power shortage. 

The Government had identified the Gwanda solar project as one of the low hanging fruits or quickest solutions to dealing with Zimbabwe’s long standing chronic power deficit, however, despite sluggish economy. 

But amidst the board room dithering, complex legal tussling and rabid mudslinging over who was at fault for the delays in the implementation of the project, the people of Gwanda have had a bitter pill to swallow. 

Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs Minister Abedinico Ncube told Business Weekly during a visit to Gwanda this week that he was angry as well as tired of the seemingly unending excuses by the project developer. 

Notably though, it has emerged that while the bulk of planned initial project works have been completed, some of the infrastructure has since been badly damaged by elements of weather before even being used. 

The visit to the Gwanda solar project site also indicated that the infrastructure at the site, including the perimeter fence, temporary shelter and ablution facilities, will likely deteriorate further after the project stalled.   

For instance, verdant, dense prickly shrubbery has started regenerating on the 400 hectare site, which had been cleared at significant cost in preparation and anticipation of installation of the long planned  project. 

“There is nothing (happening there), he (Chivayo) has been telling lies. We are not happy because for a long time he has been lying that he will bring a solar project to Gwanda. It was supposed to benefit many people. 

“It (Gwanda solar project) would not benefit Gwanda alone, but Matabeleland South province as a whole, but he has been telling us false stories only. If there are other potential investors, they must come in,” he said. 

Minister Ncube said they wanted genuine investors to drive investment in the province, such as solar energy projects, which he said was critical for the economic development of the predominantly dry region. 

“We are tired of being told useless stories and unending lies. If we get genuine investors for solar, it will help provide power desperately needed in our hospitals, schools, industries and even our homes,” he said.  

Gwanda mayor, Councillor Njabulo Siziba said while Intratrek Zimbabwe was paid US$5 million, it only attempted to develop the project in 2019 when people started asking about what happened to the money. 

“They (Intratrek Zimbabwe) only started grading (clearing) the area in 2019, but the money had already been spent. But at that point this was only a way of deceiving us to make us think that something was happening. 

“That year, (Fortune) Chasi was (still) the Energy and Power Development) Minister; he came and took us to the project as Gwanda Council. He also gave promises saying the thing cannot be an eye sore for too long. 

“He said he was going back to Harare and promised to push the project, he said whoever was responsible for it (solar project) and would help expedite it, he said he would make sure the project is done. 

“That was that. The plant, in terms of its size, I do not remember, but as per what we were told, it would cover the whole of the Gwanda urban area and a radius of 40 kilometres outside of the Gwanda urban areas. 

“When it comes to certain things, this is peculiar to Zanu PF or the MDC, this country is just full of corrupt people. Also, when the issue involves powerful people and it is difficult  to intervene,” Siziba said. 

The Gwanda mayor also said the people of Gwanda were very angry about the lack of development for the Gwanda solar project, which he said would have created new jobs for the youths, apart from supplying power. 

He said that Gwanda had no notable industry, besides the mines in the surrounding areas, meaning that the Gwanda solar project could have been one of the few initiatives that would absorb some youths into employment. 

Anthony Kumalo, a resident of Gwanda who stays near the project site, said a number of locals, angered by the lack of progress had resorted to vandalizing the infrastructure, such as the fencing, as a way of protest. 

“You find that people at times just cut the fencing and to show it is not about taking it away, they just leave it there.” 

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