Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Michael Tome Business Reporter

PUMA Energies Zimbabwe plans to establish at least 300 solar systems across its retail network by the end of 2023 to enhance the security of power supply to its operations as well as contribute to the global transition to clean energy sources.

This comes as the energy company is bullish about growing its domestic market share and recently announced plans to spend US$10 million on the network expansion over the next five years.

Although Puma did not avail the actual targeted investment amount, the budget for the solar projects has already been approved and the firm will proceed with the implementation of the project once technical details are finalised.

Solar energy can be a cost-effective solution to energy challenges in Zimbabwe as it eliminates the need for costly infrastructure development like installation of power lines over long distances.

According to Puma, the company has already identified working partners that will be working with it in the solar energy space.

The petroleum company has thus far managed to set up teams to work on project designs, particularly for its strategic service stations.

“Whilst it has taken us longer than we had anticipated, we are still committed to solarising our retail network as part of Puma Energy’s wider plans to install 300 solar projects across its network by the end of 2023. 

“We have already installed over 230 solar generation systems on our own assets and now we are ready to help our customers cut their Greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions and energy bills by doing the same.

“Hitherto the company has established a great deal of solar power generation expertise through the installation of solar generation systems across our network,” said Donatien Kodog, Puma Energy Zimbabwe general manager.

Just like in many parts of Africa, Zimbabwe receives a high amount of solar radiation due to its abundance of sunlight and proximity to the equator. This makes solar power a reliable and consistent source of energy in the region.

Solar energy is a clean and renewable source of energy, producing no harmful emissions or pollution. It helps to reduce reliance on other degrading sources of energy including fossil fuels, leading to a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating climate change.

Solar power systems are designed in a diverse scale and can be custom-made to match the specific energy needs of different communities, from small off-grid systems for individual households to larger installations for institutions and industries.

Tapiwanashe Mangwiro Business Reporter

Zimbabwe may export about 60 000 tonnes of excess wheat stocks next year amid another anticipated bumper harvest of the grain this year, which is expected to leave the country with more than it requires for domestic consumption.

According to a report by the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Zimbabwe expects to realise 420 000 tonnes from the winter crop.

“The country planted 90 000 hectares of wheat in the current winter cropping season from which we expect 420 000 tonnes of wheat, which is about 60 000 more than the national requirement.

“Because of the targeted harvest, the country will be self-sufficient for a second year running and we will be able to export wheat to our sister countries in Africa,” the report read.

Agronomist Anderson Magura believes the projections represent the true reflection of the country’s achievements in agriculture in recent years, especially the production of key grains namely wheat and maize, among other major crops.

“The projections are not far off from what we have also gathered, and this is testament to the success of the agriculture policy that has been driven by the Second Republic as a way to food self-sufficiency,” he said.

Paul Zakariya, executive director of the Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union (ZCFU), told The Herald’s sister television station ZTN’s The Mint programme that the agriculture sector benefited from good rains and good planning procedures.

“When you look at those results, there are things you need to really appreciate, compared to the previous seasons, there has been consistent planning, commitment, consultation and also commitment of resources. Resources have been put in place and targeting of farming areas has been increased as well as extension (services) have been beefed up as they have been retrained and equipped. Our season was a good season with farmers having inputs way before time except those self-financing farmers,” he said.

Analyst Namatai Maeresera said the need to sustain self-sufficiency is important if we are to look at global events in the past 12 to 18 months.

“It has been stressed enough about the importance of being self-sufficient as we are coming on the back of serious geopolitical issues and conflicts that have caused food prices to increase. If we did not put any plan in place, we would be feeling the pinch in reduced food aid across the world so it is good to produce for ourselves,” Mr Maeresera said.

ZCFU is participating as an organisation in the steering committee that is looking to enhance irrigation in the country.

According to Mr Zakariya, all the irrigation schemes that had stopped working for various reasons are or have been refurbished. In addition, new irrigation schemes are coming up.

“A lot of investment is going into own farm irrigation development, and many commercial farmers are adopting that as a way to climate-proof their production and making sure they can produce even outside the rain season,” he said.

Commercial Farmers Union (CFU) chief executive officer Sam Miller said they have seen a huge increase in terms of irrigation going up to about 220 000 hectares that are now operational, and put to good use.

“This is one of the reasons why we see an increase in wheat production as it is an irrigated crop. So, there has been a shift in the right direction in terms of increasing the capacity to irrigate as climate-proofing,” he said.

The CFU president also stressed the need for the country to continue investing in climate-proof agriculture for sustainable food production.

“We need to be very serious about what is happening around us environmentally, and climate change is a real scourge and if you look at the projections, by 2050 if we do not do anything there is going to be a crisis, particularly in the southern African region,” Mr Miller added.

The country needs to take climate proofing seriously as projections say by 2050 the region will see much reduced rainfall leaving it a net exporter of food.

Remarks by the Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Honourable Prof Amon Murwira during a meeting with sadc ambassadors accredited to Zimbabwe: August 27, 2023 

Introductory Remarks 

Good morning Your Excellencies; 

1. First, we wish to welcome you to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. We wish to express our gratitude to you for your presence at this very important meeting at such a short notice. 

2. As our Guests, it is only appropriate that you, as SADC Ambassadors hear from us directly and not from third parties, so that you can engage your Capitals and the rest of the International Community from a point of knowledge. 

3. Let me begin with the fact that we are not only neighbours in one geographic space, but that we are one family. 

4. SEOM was invited to observe our elections by dint of our common membership of this family called SADC, whose structures and organs recommended the development of a SADC Elections Observer Mission. We were therefore, happy to invite SEOM and other Observers, and we are honoured to have them in our midst. SEOM, including all other Observers, were able to freely go around the country, and observe for themselves the peaceful conduct of our elections. 

5. We are also aware that besides the SEOM, many SADC States had bilateral Observer Missions which we are confident also went around the country to observe our democracy at work. 

6. As impartial Observers with clear and specific mandate, we believe Electoral Observation Missions should operate within their given mandate, which is to observe and recommend areas that need improvement. We believe that constructive and progressive comments on the manner in which we organised and conducted our 2023 Harmonised Elections is healthy and welcome, and falls within the realm of all Observer Missions that we invited. This is why we freely invited Observer Missions in the first place. 

Political and Security Environment 

7. On August 23, 2023, Zimbabwe held its harmonised elections in a peaceful and calm environment. It goes without saying Zimbabwe enjoyed peace before the election, during the election and continues to enjoy peace and tranquillity in the post-election period in line with the clarion call of His Excellency the President Cde Dr ED Mnangagwa. 

8. We further note the fact that all Missions acknowledged that the harmonised elections were conducted throughout the country in a peaceful and tranquil environment. 

Results of the Harmonised Elections 

9. Your Excellencies, it is now common knowledge that the full results of the Harmonised Elections were announced last night by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission. 10. We take this opportunity to congratulate His Excellency the President, Cde Dr ED Mnangagwa and all the successful parliamentary and local government candidates in the harmonised election. 

11. Ultimately the people of Zimbabwe are the winners in this election. We commend them and continue to encourage them to be peaceful in the post election period. 

SADC Electoral Observation Mission’s Report 

12. On Friday, August 25, 2023 many Observer Missions to the harmonised elections presented their preliminary findings. The Government of Zimbabwe welcomes progressive preliminary comments and recommendations contained in some of these reports which were made in the spirit of strengthening our institutions and enhancing our democracy in future elections. 

13. SADC’s mission is to foster peace and security as the prerequisite for regional integration and development to achieve a common future. However, we are disturbed by some aspects of the SEOM report which deviate from the spirit, intent and mandate of the SADC Observer Mission as outlined in the SADC Guidelines which Zimbabwe has fully domesticated. 

Ambassadors accredited to Zimbabwe.

14. It is our understanding that SADC respects the sovereignty of Member States and that SEOM as its subsidiary operates within the confines of the constitutions and laws of Member States, which are passed by sovereign Parliaments. We don’t believe it is in the remit of SEOM to question or interfere in Member States Constitutions, laws, and court decisions passed by their sovereign democratic institutions. 

15. We believe SEOM, as our institution, had all avenues open to interrogate, verify and validate information before it was published, in line with SADC cherished values and principles of transparency, impartiality and non partisanship. Unfortunately, in some areas cited in the report, this did not happen resulting in the views of a partisan nature being presented in the preliminary report as facts. 

16. Your Excellencies, during the 43rd SADC Summit held in Luanda, Angola, Zimbabwe briefed the Heads of State and Government on its State of Preparedness to hold the Harmonised Elections. Summit took note and praised Zimbabwe on the fact that all outstanding issues that had been raised by SEAC in April 2023 had been fully addressed in accordance with Zimbabwe’s Constitution and Electoral
Laws. These included the Delimitation of Constituencies, availability of electronic voters roll and voting status. Summit acknowledged this update and wished Zimbabwe a peaceful election. 

17. We therefore find it puzzling that the SEOM considered it appropriate to reopen debate on issues of a purely domestic nature which had been long concluded by the appropriate authorities in Zimbabwe and which Summit in Luanda had noted and adopted. 

Delimitation Process 

18. Statements such as the “delimitation was a flawed and unconstitutionally executed process, that Kasukuwere’s disqualification was unconstitutional”, are most unhelpful. The Kasukuwere case was concluded by a Constitutional Court judgment. This also includes unhelpful comments that the so called “Patriotic Bill” was unconstitutional as it attacks the freedom of speech. Such statements, intentionally or unintentionally, cast aspersions on the integrity of Zimbabwe’s public institutions and create doubt in the populace. Zimbabwe fully respects SADC, its leadership, principles and values. After all Zimbabwe is a key beneficiary of SADC’s assistance and solidarity and deeply appreciates this. 

19. SADC, our great institution has always thrived on consultations and mutual respect of its Member States’ sovereignty. Zimbabwe has full confidence that the errors cited in the SEOM report will be corrected with the view of ensuring the intended beneficial contribution to strengthening the electoral processes of Member States, including Zimbabwe. 

Long Live SADC for our common future! 

I thank you Excellencies! 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade 

August 27, 2023