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1445: The President ends his speech.

1444: “As we go and vote let’s be mindful of the gains of the liberation struggle and defend our motherland and values of our unitary state and loyalty to the revolution.”

1443: “Zim is endowed with numerous resources including wild game and forest, so let us exploit these and embrace each other peacefully, in peace despite our political differences.”

He invites investors to exploit opportunities in Zimbabwe and assures them that global capital is safe in Zimbabwe.

1442: We can say we have defeated sanctions based on the level of development we are registering, our economy has been growing at an average of 5% in the last five years, the sanctions have made us more innovative.

1441: He says the focus on infrastructure development remains a key issue for the Second Republic and this will be scaled up going forward despite the presence of sanctions.

1440: President Mnangagwa says he was impressed by the involvement of youth engineers in the expansion project, especially women engineers.

1439: “Zimbabweans must be proud and walk with their heads up, this country has resources and we must harness technology and innovation to exploit these.”

1437: He urges the masses to vote in their large numbers for Zanu PF come 23 August, and defend their motherland. He appeals to the youth especially to remain patriotic to their country and embrace the values of the revolution as bequeathed to them by the freedom fighters.

1435: He now turns to the concerns of locals in Hwange. He says the pensioners here would be assisted, including getting title deeds for the houses they have occupied over the years with no legal ownership.

1430: Am so happy, ndafara, says the President as he reflects on the successful implementation and completion of ambitious power projects.

1425: Says Zimbabwe remains vigilant to further expanding its capacity to assist the region, which has supported the country in times of shortage, and that going forward, Zimbabwe would seek to exploit the energy export gap.

1422: In particular, President Mnangagwa commends Zesa and the Ministry of Energy for remaining focused while the project was being implemented.

1420: The President says the commissioning event is a grand event for Zimbabwe to move forward in fostering its own development.

He commends all stakeholders for ensuring the success of the project.

1418: “I am happy that as we draw towards polls the environment is peaceful, shame to those who want to see us commit violence.”

He commends other parties for also preaching peace.

1417: “As I always say nyika inovakwa, igotongwa nevene vayo, we too are masters of our destiny and no one can tell us what to do. We are a peaceful nation, a friend to all and enemy to none.”

1415: “We now say, for now, bye-bye load shedding. Of course, as our economy grows, we shall expand our generation capacity to meet the growing production needs.”

1410: “We have also developed and modernised our agriculture sector and we are now food secure for the past three years. Now we are energy sufficient.”

1408: “These are our friends and those who imposed sanctions didn’t believe we could develop at this pace without their help.”

1407: “Today we are commissioning Hwange 7 and 8 as a result of the meeting. This is the Second Republic, which delivers,” says the President

1405: He reminisces his state visit to China in 2018, where the breakthrough to financing the Hwange Units 7 and 8 Expansion Project was made. Other projects include the US$100 million new Parliament building in Mt Hampden, a US$153 million loan to upgrade RGM International Airport, which has been recently commissioned.

1404: He begins by paying tribute to traditional leaders as custodians of communities and expresses gratitude for being allowed to engage with the masses, saying Hwange has always been so dear in his regard.

1403: The President welcomes the distinguished delegates and the public, and says he is elated to officiate at this momentous occasion.

14:00 President Mnangagwa now takes to the podium and the large crowd erupts with excitement dancing along with the President to Jah Prayzah’s Kutonga Kwaro song. He chants Zanu PF slogans with masses responding along, clapping and whistling.

1355: As we head into harmonized elections, let’s vote for our President as the sole candidate. MPs and Cllrs will ensure the continuation of projects he initiated. Let’s take heed of the President’s call for peace, we want peace.

1354: No one can build our country besides us. As Zimbabweans we are educated so let’s put our heads together and build our country.

1353: Successful implementation of the project would not have been possible without the astute leadership of the Guest of Honour.

1352: Utilities such as this power plant are essential building blocks towards the attainment of Vision 2030.

1350: VP Chiwenga starts by saying the guest of honour has come to open Unit 7 and 8 but we are in the campaign period, so we will combine the two.

“The project ensures key enablers to economic development.”

1347: He invites the VP to make remarks and introduce President who is the guest.

1345: He congratulates Zesa for completing the project under difficult circumstances. Local engineers have been empowered and our partnership with China will always remain. These new units represent our collective determination to provide efficient energy to Zimbabwe.

13:40 Energy and Power Development Minister Zhemu Soda says the project has changed the face of energy in Zimbabwe.

Groundbreaking of the project was done in June 2018 and exactly five years later it has been completed as promised.
Today His Excellency is not only commissioning an energy source but giving you a better life.

1330: An official from Sino Hydro, the contractor which partnered Zesa in building of the power station and other projects says the company committed US$1.5 billion for the project which faced challenges such as Covid-19, cash flow and logistical challenges but soldiered on due to shared determination.

1320: Hwange chair Dr Sydney Gata takes to the podium to give the project overview.

13:10 The President and his delegation are now at the Hwange Colliery Stadium where official commissioning proceedings will be done

13:00 President Mnangagwa has finished the tour of the Hwange Power Station Units 7 and 8 Expansion Project and has said he is impressed with the massive works and the output, which has enabled the country to do away with load shedding.

12:02 a tour of the project has commenced

11:00 President Mnangagwa has arrived for the official commissioning of the Hwange Units 7 and 8 expansion project

TODAY, 3 August, President Mnangagwa commissions the US$1,5 billion Hwange Power Station Unit 7 and 8 expansion project that has excited locals in the coal mining town where stakeholders say they are already feeling the positive impact of the investment.

The Hwange Units 7 and 8 Expansion Project is a major milestone for Zimbabwe, as it fulfils one of the promises made by His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa on improving the power supply situation in the country, in line with the key aspirations of NDS1. In order to make sure that no one and no place is left behind, there was a purposeful local empowerment plan (Hwange – both rural and urban areas) where the locals were given first employment priority, extended to the entire population of Zimbabwe for these projects. The project provided employment benefits to more than 4000 Zimbabwean people.

Formal commissioning is a milestone event for the 600MW capacity project facilitated by the Second Republic as part of its bold steps to address the country’s power challenges and boost productivity.

President Mnangagwa officiated at the ground-breaking ceremony for the project on June 28, 2018 and despite the Covid-19 outbreak, which affected progress, the project is now complete.

The coming onstream of the two units has significantly reduced load shedding across the country. The Hwange expansion project is the country’s biggest energy investment project since independence in 1980 and among the largest energy projects in Africa in the past two decades.

As owners of this national asset, the Hwange community is the biggest beneficiary after more than 3 000 locals were employed during construction works and the provision of key supplies.