MPANDAWANA – Gutu Rural District Council (RDC) has signed a US$120 million deal with Hive Energy Limited which is in a joint venture with Ridgewell Investments for the construction of 100 megawatts solar energy plant in Chatsworth.
The project will be done on a 300-hectare council farm and is expected to start in mid-October this year.
It will generate power using solar and green technology which will then be sold to large power suppliers like Zesa and other public power distributors in the SADC.
Gutu RDC Chief Executive Officer Alexander Mutembwa said the local authority was excited by the deal as it will create jobs and lead to improved revenue for the local authority.
“We are very excited being involved in such a big project in the district as it is expected to create about 2500 jobs for locals in Gutu and in Zimbabwe at large. It will also help attract investment for the modernisation of infrastructure in the district as a result of an increase in revenue,” said Mutembwa
He said the project was of great importance to the district which will be in a better position to electrify schools, public offices and health centres.local
