Category: zimbabwe

Oliver Kazunga Senior Business

LOCAL sustainable energy and infrastructure development company, New Sahara Ventures, intends to connect an additional 30 megawatts (MW) to the national grid this year from its Guruve Solar Park expansion project in Mashonaland Central province.

The US$4,75 million project started feeding 5MW into the national grid last year.

Responding to written questions from Herald Finance and Business, New Sahara Ventures chairman Mr Ainos Ngadya said last year, his organisation also participated in the development of the 5,7MW Sunset Solar Farm in Matabeleland South Province and various off-grid solar power plants across the country.

“In 2024 New Sahara Ventures is on track to further connect at least 30MW to the national grid under the Guruve Solar Park expansion to provide clean energy to wider Guruve and Mahuwe communities, New Glovers 10MW solar farm in the Midlands Province, Sunports Energy Park in Mashonaland East corridor among other key rural centres,” he said.

Mr Ngadya said the off-grid solar power projects his organisation has been involved in have supported farming, industrial and commercial customers in the country.

He said each of the renewable energy projects New Sahara Ventures developed, has created an estimated 45 jobs (permanent and part-time) over the next 25 years.

“The projects also create stable renewable energy power for local farmers and industries and act as power import replacement. 

“Funding for the projects have been secured from local and regional financial institutions who are increasingly tilting towards impact and sustainable investments,” said Mr Ngadya.

Over the years, Zimbabwe has been reeling under severe electricity shortages due to recurring breakdowns at Hwange Power Station, the country’s largest power station before the implementation of the plant’s US$1,5 billion expansion of Units 7 and 8.

The two units were commissioned by President Mnangagwa last year adding  600MW to the national grid.

So far, Zimbabwe’s power generation averages 1 400MW including output from IPPs projects.

This is against national demand of above 2 000MW.  

The Government intends to increase Zimbabwe’s overall electricity supply from 2 317MW of installed capacity to 3 467MW by next year.

The country’s power situation has been exacerbated by subdued generation at Kariba, which is also Zimbabwe’s biggest hydropower plant, on the back of low water levels caused by the adverse effects of climate change.

As part of the initiatives to address the country’s power supply situation, the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority has since 2010 been licensing Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to invest in renewable energy targeting a combined output of 1 100MW from the sector by next year.

However, the country’s drive towards generating the targeted 1 100MW from the renewable energy sector by 2025, has been slowed down by a lack of investment by IPPs due to currency volatility and uneconomic tariffs.

To address the above concern, the Government has given guarantees to IPPs with projects of a combined 1 000MW.

The Government agreed to a Government Implementation Agreement (GIA) for all solar projects and under the framework, IPPs are guaranteed an economic tariff while the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe ensures that they can convert their earnings to foreign currency and be able to transfer it.

The GIA also carries a power purchase agreement with the country’s power utility, ZESA.

Fidelis Munyoro Chief Court Reporter

Cotton Company of Zimbabwe former chief executive officer Pious Manamike has lost in his bid to reverse the seizure of his property by the State pending the finalisation of his fraud case.

The property was seized in February last year, following an application by the Prosecutor-General in terms of the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act. This is a procedure that means that the property owner cannot sell or destroy the assets until the criminal case is complete.

The High Court, having reasonably believed on perusal of the papers that the property in question was tainted property and that there was a reasonable likelihood of dissipation of the property if the order were not granted, the order authorised any Investigating Officer in the employ of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) or other law enforcement officers to search for and seize the 15 vehicles.

The vehicles belonged to Manamike although they were registered in the name of Eternal Resources (Private) Limited, a company in which Manamike and his spouse were, apparently, the sole shareholders and directors.

In the present case, Manamike had approached the High Court seeking to set aside the seizure order, arguing that the order did not contain a return date on which the order was to be either confirmed or discharged.

He also complained that the order was thus irregularly granted because it took away his right to be heard before an independent and impartial court in a matter dealing with their rights to use and deal with their property.

However, Justice Benjamin Chikowere did not find merit on the application and dismissed it. The judge ruled that the fact that Manamike has not been called upon to answer the charges he is facing could not be of any consequence.

“It cannot be a proper exercise of discretion on the part of this court to interfere with the criminal investigations by setting aside the property seizure order, hence facilitating the release, dissipation and alienation of property reasonably believed to be proceeds of crime,” he said.

Justice Chikowero agreed with prosecution counsel Ms Molly Mutamangira that the order was made in terms of section 47 of the Money Laundering Act.

In that section or the Act as a whole, there is no requirement that a property seizure order, though provisional in nature, should have a return date.

“Viewed from this perspective, the want of a return date cannot be good cause for the setting aside of the property seizure order,” ruled Justice Chikowero.

The judge pointed out that the idea behind s 47(1)(b) of the Money Laundering Act is that the application be made without notice to the other party.

“The giving of notice would defeat the need to obtain an order sanctioning the seizure of the property,” he said.

“The giving of notice would defeat the need to obtain an order sanctioning the seizure of the tainted property, and effecting such seizure, before the property is dissipated or alienated. It is not good cause for the setting aside of the order,” he said.

Depending on the outcome of the investigation or prosecution, the property can still be returned to Manamike.

Manamike was arrested in July 2021 last alongside former company’s development marketing manager, Maxmore Njanji on allegations of abusing Cottco resources to fund their projects.

Crime Reporter

THREE suspected armed robbers who were terrorising and targeting people keeping large amounts of money in Bulawayo and Matabeleland South province have been killed following a shoot-out with police.

Police identified the suspects as Pride Moyo (29), Newman Ncube and Ntokozo Ncube. They were shot dead during an incident which occurred at Tuli River, Gwanda around mid-day on Tuesday.

National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the incident.

“Acting on a tip-off, detectives from CID homicide Bulawayo intercepted four armed robbery suspects who were travelling in a green and white Toyota Hiace near Tuli River en route to Freda Mine. On seeing the detectives, the suspects started to fire towards the police officers and a shoot-out ensued. Resultantly, Pride Moyo, Newman Ncube and Ntokozo Ncube were shot and were taken to Gwanda District Hospital where they died upon admission,” he said.

The detectives managed to recover a revolver 38 SPL with two live rounds, three empty cartridges and two pellet guns from the suspects’ vehicle.

Asst Comm Nyathi said the suspects are linked to two robbery cases and an attempted murder case.

In one of the robbery cases which occurred on June 30 2023 at Insindi Ranch House, the suspects, who were armed with pistols, a hunting knife, knobkerrie and paper spray, attacked two victims before stealing US$7 800 cash, an FN 9mm pistol with a magazine of 13 rounds, a cadix .38 revolver and jewellery valued at US$200. In another robbery case which occurred on January 1, 2024 in Plumtree, the suspects who were armed with firearms attacked a victim before stealing US$74 000, R25 000 and a motor vehicle.

The suspects are also linked to a case of attempted murder which occurred in Cowdray Park on August 1, 2023, where three police officers were injured during a shoot-out.

Meanwhile, police are appealing for information which may lead to the arrest of Simelweyinkosi Dube who managed to escape from the scene during the shoot-out.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police urges the public to report movements of criminal syndicates to the Police on National Complaints Desk number (0242) 703631 or WhatsApp on 0712 800 197 or report at any nearest Police Station,” Asst Comm Nyathi said.

Yeukai Karengezeka Court Correspondent

CCC senior member Job Sikhala was yesterday convicted of communicating falsehoods on social media by Harare regional magistrate Mrs Feresi Chakanyuka.

He will return to court on February 12 for mitigation, aggravation and sentencing.

Sikhala posted on social media that a junior police officer killed a baby with a baton stick in 2021.

Mr Jeremiah Bamu and Mr Harrison Nkomo are representing Sikhala.

In his defence, Sikhala told the court that he does not have a Facebook page and has no control over it.

The State then led evidence from Davison Nkosi, a police officer who recorded a statement from the mother of the child and saw the child himself.

He admitted that he did not verify the owner of the Facebook page.

The issue which sticks out is whether the accused owns or controls the Facebook page.

In assessing the weight of electronic evidence reliability, Mrs Chakanyuka said it was clear that the name and picture appearing on the page is that of Job Sikhala.

“The Facebook page contains the accused’s name and face. The utterances align with the accused’s political rhetoric. The accused gave a defence outline and failed to give his defence. His defence outline is just that, an outline.

“The State laid out a prima facie case which required the accused to respond. However, the accused only opted to invoke his right to silence,” she said.

Mrs Chakanyuka added that as a result of the evidence led by the State, Sikhala is found guilty as charged.

“In our law, the State has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt. The State does not have to close every avenue of doubt. Therefore, the accused published the prejudicial statement which was meant to undermine the authority of the ZRP. Therefore, the accused is found guilty of communicating falsehoods.”

Meanwhile, another opposition member, Fadzai Mahere, was convicted of the same charge in April last year and fined US$500.