Zimbabwe President Mugabe Speaks on Power Crisis
Tendai Mugabe Senior Reporter
Zimbabwe Herald
Power outages bedevilling the country are a result of low water levels at Lake Kariba and Government is working on a robust system premised on harnessing solar energy to avert power shortages, President Mugabe said yesterday.
Addressing Zanu-pf supporters and Government officials gathered at the Harare International Airport to welcome him from the from the US where he attended the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York yesterday, President Mugabe said Energy and Power Development Minister Dr Samuel Undenge did not generate electricity, hence it was wrong to blame him for the power blackouts.
Dr Undenge came under a barrage of attacks from the media recently, ostensibly for failing to address the power situation in the country.
People, the President said, should desist from the habit of trying to score cheap political points through blame games.
“Nyaya yemagetsi chinzwai vamwe vangangova nekushora Minister Undenge. Minister Undenge haasiye anogaya magetsi. (On the issue of electricity, some may want to blame Minister Undenge. He is not the one who generates electricity).
“Electricity is generated by drawing water from Kariba Dam through the turning of turbines. When dam levels are low, the generating capacity is also low. This previous year we received low rainfall,” he said.
President Mugabe said water flows from the equatorial regions in countries such as Angola that feed into Zambezi River were also low, thereby contributing to the low production of power at Kariba Hydro Power Station.
As such, the President said, all countries that relied on hydro power from Zambezi River were being affected.
“We were warned before that this year water levels will be low and as such power generation will be low as well,” he said.
“We also generate thermal power from Hwange. We have six generating units there, just like in Kariba.
“The challenge that we have with thermal power from Hwange is that coal has some impurities that disrupt smooth running of the machinery and that requires constant cleaning.
“When cleaning the machinery, they switch off some of the units resulting in low generation of power. We then proposed for quick implementation of alternative power sources that do not require water or coal such as solar.
“We said harness that heat from the sun and convert it into electricity — that is the solar energy we are talking about — electricity from the sun.
“What is expensive are the panels used to draw the heat. If you look along Airport Road there are some small solar panels fitted to harness solar power. So all this requires time to implement and as such power outages are inevitable not only here in Zimbabwe but in other countries such as Zambia and South Africa.
“We have to wait for the rains and the work that is underway to harness solar energy. After that our country will have abundant power. We could have done some of these things long back but we have shortage of resources as a country.”
President Mugabe said industry should exploit the availability of electricity at night for maximum production.
“Saka regai Minister Undenge handiye ane simba raMwari kwete,” he said.
“Zvino vamwe vanobva vati tamuwanira pano tange tisingamude kuti atitungamirire. Aiwa. Ndozvatisingade izvozvo zvekupa munhu mhosva yaasina. He is the chairman for Manicaland province. He is the chairman and no one else.
“Iye zvino kwange kwaita bishi Mai Mugabe vakati ndoda kuenda kuManicaland asi rwendo rwuno ndange ndisingade mudhorobha ndange ndichida kuenda kuvanhu kunze. Zvino hezvo hanzi ngavatouya kuSakubva. Ivo vari kuti kwete ndoda kuenda kuvanhu kuSakubva ndaita, ndaita.
“Minister Undenge had proposed that she should come to Chimanimani and they said no we don’t want because you want the First Lady to come to your constituency.
“Who said if you are the chairman the First Lady does not visit your area? Kusanzwanana ikoko ndiko kunotiunzira bopoto risina mviro mviro dzakanaka. So we don’t want that,” the President said.
President Mugabe hailed the security forces for maintaining the peace prevailing in the country.
He said in line with the country’s economic blueprint Zim-Asset, Government had imported enough maize to feed those facing food shortages.
President Mugabe said through the Ministry of Labour and Social Services Government was ready to assist its citizens both in urban and rural areas.
He urged the able-bodied in the society to assist others including those who lost their jobs and the vulnerable in rural areas.
‘Don’t Blame Minister Undenge for Power Shortages’ – Mugabe
Thursday 1st October 2015 22:47
HARARE—President Robert Mugabe says Zimbabweans should not blame his power development minister for the country’s current electricity problems saying they are caused by low water levels at Lake Kariba.
According to the state-controlled Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, Mr. Mugabe said this when he addressed party supporters at Harare International today soon after arriving home from the United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA.
He said Minister Samuel Undenge has nothing to do with the power shortages, which he also attributed to low electricity generation at the undercapitalized Hwange Power Station.
But critics say the country’s power shortages are caused by the government’s lack of planning and poor prioritization.
“This is really bad,” says political analyst Rejoice Ngwenya. “In a normal situation Undenge should be fired because he has failed. We have always known the water in Kariba would one day go down; what plan did he bring as a minister to avert a national crisis. He’s just being protected by Mugabe when it’s clear that he has failed the country. He should just go.”
Mr. Mugabe noted that Zimbabwe has alternative sources of power like coal and solar energy, adding that industries should consider introducing night shifts to avoid a complete shutdown.
He said Zambia is also facing similar challenges. Ordinary Zimbabweans also blame Harare for lack of strategic planning to ensure there’s enough energy in the country.
President Mugabe also addressed divisions affecting his party as factions within Zanu PF continue to fight for political turf, in particular the so-called G40, comprising the party’s young turks who are allegedly supporting First Lady Grace Mugabe, and the Emmerson Mnangagwa faction. The deputy president denies he leads a faction in Zanu PF but insiders say that is not true.
He urged the youth to desist from being used by some in the party trying to use money to lure them to their factions.
“Do not allow them to use you, those who come to you with money,” he said. “The party has a constitution to deal with everything so be wary of those people coming to you to cause confusion.”
He also spoke about the food shortages currently facing the country.
Mr. Mugabe said the government is doing all it can to ensure no-one does of hunger in the country.
“There is little food in the country at the moment and water but we are trying all we can to improve the situation,” he told his party supporters upon arrival at the Harare Airport. – VOA
Zimbabwe Herald
Power outages bedevilling the country are a result of low water levels at Lake Kariba and Government is working on a robust system premised on harnessing solar energy to avert power shortages, President Mugabe said yesterday.
Addressing Zanu-pf supporters and Government officials gathered at the Harare International Airport to welcome him from the from the US where he attended the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York yesterday, President Mugabe said Energy and Power Development Minister Dr Samuel Undenge did not generate electricity, hence it was wrong to blame him for the power blackouts.
Dr Undenge came under a barrage of attacks from the media recently, ostensibly for failing to address the power situation in the country.
People, the President said, should desist from the habit of trying to score cheap political points through blame games.
“Nyaya yemagetsi chinzwai vamwe vangangova nekushora Minister Undenge. Minister Undenge haasiye anogaya magetsi. (On the issue of electricity, some may want to blame Minister Undenge. He is not the one who generates electricity).
“Electricity is generated by drawing water from Kariba Dam through the turning of turbines. When dam levels are low, the generating capacity is also low. This previous year we received low rainfall,” he said.
President Mugabe said water flows from the equatorial regions in countries such as Angola that feed into Zambezi River were also low, thereby contributing to the low production of power at Kariba Hydro Power Station.
As such, the President said, all countries that relied on hydro power from Zambezi River were being affected.
“We were warned before that this year water levels will be low and as such power generation will be low as well,” he said.
“We also generate thermal power from Hwange. We have six generating units there, just like in Kariba.
“The challenge that we have with thermal power from Hwange is that coal has some impurities that disrupt smooth running of the machinery and that requires constant cleaning.
“When cleaning the machinery, they switch off some of the units resulting in low generation of power. We then proposed for quick implementation of alternative power sources that do not require water or coal such as solar.
“We said harness that heat from the sun and convert it into electricity — that is the solar energy we are talking about — electricity from the sun.
“What is expensive are the panels used to draw the heat. If you look along Airport Road there are some small solar panels fitted to harness solar power. So all this requires time to implement and as such power outages are inevitable not only here in Zimbabwe but in other countries such as Zambia and South Africa.
“We have to wait for the rains and the work that is underway to harness solar energy. After that our country will have abundant power. We could have done some of these things long back but we have shortage of resources as a country.”
President Mugabe said industry should exploit the availability of electricity at night for maximum production.
“Saka regai Minister Undenge handiye ane simba raMwari kwete,” he said.
“Zvino vamwe vanobva vati tamuwanira pano tange tisingamude kuti atitungamirire. Aiwa. Ndozvatisingade izvozvo zvekupa munhu mhosva yaasina. He is the chairman for Manicaland province. He is the chairman and no one else.
“Iye zvino kwange kwaita bishi Mai Mugabe vakati ndoda kuenda kuManicaland asi rwendo rwuno ndange ndisingade mudhorobha ndange ndichida kuenda kuvanhu kunze. Zvino hezvo hanzi ngavatouya kuSakubva. Ivo vari kuti kwete ndoda kuenda kuvanhu kuSakubva ndaita, ndaita.
“Minister Undenge had proposed that she should come to Chimanimani and they said no we don’t want because you want the First Lady to come to your constituency.
“Who said if you are the chairman the First Lady does not visit your area? Kusanzwanana ikoko ndiko kunotiunzira bopoto risina mviro mviro dzakanaka. So we don’t want that,” the President said.
President Mugabe hailed the security forces for maintaining the peace prevailing in the country.
He said in line with the country’s economic blueprint Zim-Asset, Government had imported enough maize to feed those facing food shortages.
President Mugabe said through the Ministry of Labour and Social Services Government was ready to assist its citizens both in urban and rural areas.
He urged the able-bodied in the society to assist others including those who lost their jobs and the vulnerable in rural areas.
‘Don’t Blame Minister Undenge for Power Shortages’ – Mugabe
Thursday 1st October 2015 22:47
HARARE—President Robert Mugabe says Zimbabweans should not blame his power development minister for the country’s current electricity problems saying they are caused by low water levels at Lake Kariba.
According to the state-controlled Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, Mr. Mugabe said this when he addressed party supporters at Harare International today soon after arriving home from the United Nations General Assembly in New York, USA.
He said Minister Samuel Undenge has nothing to do with the power shortages, which he also attributed to low electricity generation at the undercapitalized Hwange Power Station.
But critics say the country’s power shortages are caused by the government’s lack of planning and poor prioritization.
“This is really bad,” says political analyst Rejoice Ngwenya. “In a normal situation Undenge should be fired because he has failed. We have always known the water in Kariba would one day go down; what plan did he bring as a minister to avert a national crisis. He’s just being protected by Mugabe when it’s clear that he has failed the country. He should just go.”
Mr. Mugabe noted that Zimbabwe has alternative sources of power like coal and solar energy, adding that industries should consider introducing night shifts to avoid a complete shutdown.
He said Zambia is also facing similar challenges. Ordinary Zimbabweans also blame Harare for lack of strategic planning to ensure there’s enough energy in the country.
President Mugabe also addressed divisions affecting his party as factions within Zanu PF continue to fight for political turf, in particular the so-called G40, comprising the party’s young turks who are allegedly supporting First Lady Grace Mugabe, and the Emmerson Mnangagwa faction. The deputy president denies he leads a faction in Zanu PF but insiders say that is not true.
He urged the youth to desist from being used by some in the party trying to use money to lure them to their factions.
“Do not allow them to use you, those who come to you with money,” he said. “The party has a constitution to deal with everything so be wary of those people coming to you to cause confusion.”
He also spoke about the food shortages currently facing the country.
Mr. Mugabe said the government is doing all it can to ensure no-one does of hunger in the country.
“There is little food in the country at the moment and water but we are trying all we can to improve the situation,” he told his party supporters upon arrival at the Harare Airport. – VOA
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