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Peter Matika
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MATABELELAND North Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Richard Moyo has condemned the illegal return of some villagers in Epping Forest who were recently relocated by Government to pave way for the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) new power line.

The ZPC power line is part of the US$1,5 billion Hwange Thermal Power Station Unit 7 and 8 expansion project.

The expansion project involves the construction of additional two units of 300MW each at Hwange 7 and 8.

ZPC is building new homes for the 73 displaced families under its Relocation Action Plan (RAP).

The project includes a new 400kv line that runs parallel to the existing lines on the 368km stretch where 875 transmission towers between Hwange and Insukamini outside Bulawayo have been erected.

Minister Moyo said Government does not condone illegal activity by individuals. He said he will soon engage the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development over the matter.

“This is not allowed and it is illegal for people to occupy such an area as they risk being electrocuted. There is also a danger of being affected by radiation emanating from the power lines,” he said.

“Government built houses for these people to pave the way for the power line, but it is shocking to note that some families chose to ignore this.”

When the Chronicle visited the site yesterday, the news crew observed that five homesteads had been occupied.
Efforts to get comments from the families proved futile, as some of the villagers took to their heels upon seeing the Chronicle vehicle approaching.

Minister Richard Moyo

ZPC built and handed over decent houses for at least 74 families that were affected by the new power line last year.
Most families moved into the houses in May, while some did so in November.

The stretch was divided into three sections: from Bulawayo to Lupane, Lupane to Gwayi and Gwayi to Hwange.
Work on Unit 7 and 8 began in August 2018 following a groundbreaking ceremony by President Mnangagwa.
Progress on the project has proved successful with Unit 7 having been synchronised into the national grid, while work on Unit 8 is still underway.

Nyamandlovu Villagers and ZESA Pylons

The Unit 7 and 8 expansion projects will go down as one of the greatest achievements under the Second Republic as it implements the National Development Strategy (NDS1) towards attaining aspirations of Vision 2030.

President Mnangagwa in last year commissioned the start of construction work on a 42 kilometre Deka water pipeline from the Zambezi River, which is set to increase water supply to the power station from the current 3 500 cubic metres to 6 000 cubic metres per hour.