By Patience Gondo
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has said Zimbabweans both at home and in the diaspora should reinvest their earnings into national development projects.
He said the country’s economic transformation depends on citizens building industries, infrastructure and productive enterprises within their communities.
The President made the remarks during the commissioning of the New Glovers Solar Energy Plant in Munyati near Kwekwe, where he challenged individuals and companies to direct wealth generated locally and abroad towards productive sectors such as energy, mining and agriculture.
“Kana mawana kuminda, mumigodhi, neikoko kunze zvamawana kwenyika, musadye mari yose. Ngativakei nyika yekwedu, nematunhu edu,” said
Mnangagwa, said Zimbabweans should not consume all their earnings but to invest in the country and their local communities.
The commissioning ceremony marked the official launch of the renewable energy project implemented by the Public Service Commission through the PS Pension Fund, as government intensifies efforts to strengthen infrastructure investment and reduce reliance on imported electricity.
Mnangagwa unveiled a commemorative plaque at the facility, describing the project as a demonstration of how domestic capital and pension savings can be channelled into strategic sectors capable of driving industrialisation and long-term economic growth.
The New Glovers Solar Energy Plant has an installed generation capacity of 10 megawatts and is expected to produce approximately 20 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually. Authorities say the facility represents the first phase of a broader expansion programme that will ultimately increase output to 110 megawatts.
The solar plant is equipped with 18 600 photovoltaic panels, 31 inverters, two smart transformers and a six-kilometre transmission line linking the facility to the national grid.
Government officials said the project is expected to ease pressure on Zimbabwe’s strained electricity supply system, which has faced increasing challenges in recent years due to rising industrial demand, ageing infrastructure and reduced generation at key power stations, including Kariba.
Zimbabwe has in recent years accelerated investment in renewable energy as part of broader efforts to close persistent power deficits that have disrupted mining operations, manufacturing output and domestic electricity supply.
Independent power producers are also expected to play an increasingly important role in supporting the national grid as the country pushes towards energy security and self-sufficiency.
The commissioning of the New Glovers Solar Energy Plant comes at a time when government is seeking to mobilise more local investment into critical infrastructure projects viewed as essential for sustaining economic growth and industrial development.