The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) has disclosed plans to spend some $20 million under the second phase of its key infrastructure rehabilitation programme. Managing Director, Mr Julian Chinembiri, revealed that work had already started on the tenders for the second phase which is divided into two sub-phases where $12.6 million will be spent on distribution and transmission in one sub-phase and $7.5 million on transmission in the second.
Mr Chinembiri also disclosed that the power infrastructure programme was being funded by the African Development Bank under the Zimfund multi-donor trust fund, a short to medium-term infrastructure development programme recently established to support economic recovery by improving the quality of life of people in Zimbabwe, especially the poor.
The fund is a major collaborative effort between members of the international donor community, including Australia, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom and the government of Zimbabwe as well as the African Development Bank Group.
Six municipalities are covered in the rehabilitation plan where infrastructure and basic water and sanitation services shall be provided. These regions include Harare, Chitungwiza, Chegutu, Kwekwe, Masvingo and Mutare; energy infrastructure all around the country will be improved as well.
Since the grants were approved, the Government has acquired the services of two implementing entities, Lahmeyer of Germany and PB Power of South Africa, to coordinate the programme in the water and sanitation, and energy sectors respectively.
Valued at $125-million, the fund is administered by the African Development Bank to Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Finance and Economic Development as the nominal recipient. It provides financial and technical support to economic activities consistent with the recovery priorities of the Government, leveraging a pool of donor resources that are mobilized on the basis of a common understanding of the country’s recovery needs.
By George Mpofu
