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Mr Gwasira

Tinashe Makichi Harare Bureau
THE Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority through its subsidiary Powertel will next year embark on a $32 million fibre optic backbone network project set to improve the country’s connectivity. The project requires the installation of around 1,850kilometres of cable with surveys already been completed. Zesa group spokesperson Fullard Gwasira yesterday confirmed the development to the Herald Business.

He said the thrust of the project is to improve power monitoring and control of the national power grid at the same time increasing internet capacity being sold across borders.

“This project is going to support network expansion and increase redundancy and enhance quality of service to our consumers.

“This initiative will increase capacity for growth of the business as well as increasing electricity vending service,” said Gwasira.

He said the project will be rolled out to support the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation.

Last month, Zesa group financial controller Eliab Chikwenhere told the visiting British trade mission that the power utility is responsible for the installation of fibre optic cables through Powertel.

On power generation Chikwenhere said there are investment incentives that have been put in place by Government for companies operating in the power sector.

He said projects in the power generation sector are given the special ‘National Project Status’, which exempts any company from paying taxes on capital equipment and provides government assistance with visas and work permits for international expert project staff.

Chikwenhere said Zesa has solid experience of working with external consultants and all its current project feasibility studies were conducted by external specialists.

“Project tenders are all advertised through the Zesa website and it has worked with both Norton Rose and KPMG for legal and financial support,” he said.

In a report released last week by the British business delegation dubbed the Zimbabwe scope report, it was noted that presently Zesa is facing a number of major challenges as demand outstrips supply by 800 mega watts.

The report said this situation is made more difficult by the reduced availability of imports from the rest of the Southern Africa region.

The delegation said ZESA’s assets are “at all system levels”, either inadequate or obsolete.