Trymore Tagwirei

Electricity output totaling 35 Megawatts will be installed at Lake Tugwi-Mukosi, contributing to the electrification of many new rural households in Chivi and Masvingo districts should the revised master plan succeed, EnviroPress has learnt.

The Tugwi-Mukosi Combination Master Plan states that several city and rural homes in Masvingo province would benefit from more reliable electricity from the dam.

“The dam has a potential to contribute to the development of energy resources to meet the envisaged demand through the establishment and operation of a planned 15 Megawatt hydroelectric plants and a floating solar plant.

“Overall, the Tugwi Mukosi Dam should be well-managed through proper planning of physical developments around it as it has immense potential to contribute to the national economy.

“The dam is planned to generate a total of 35 Megawatts (MW) of energy and that is a total 15MW from a floating photovoltaic solar energy. 1MW serves approximately 750-1000 city and rural homes. The whole Masvingo province is expected to be powered by both hydro and solar power generated at the dam thus easing electricity challenges that are currently crippling development in the country,” reads part of the master plan.

The master plan specifies land use in and around the dam and its lake, including demarcation of the exact areas earmarked for irrigation.

According to the Zimbabwe Regulatory Authority (ZERA), electricity imports from South Africa, Mozambique and other countries make up to 20% of Zimbabwe’s daily energy consumption. Zimbabwe’s daily power demand is estimated to be between 1 500MW and 2 350MW.

The Tugwi-Mukosi Master plan includes proposals for a smart city, urban housing development, roads and rail upgrades, tourism, irrigation schemes and fishery projects.