Chigumadzi: From law to renewable energy
GROWING populations across the region have exerted pressure on critical social services and infrastructure.
The past decade has seen Zimbabwe experience power challenges that have affected the domestic and industrial markets.
Erratic power supplies have been cited among factors contributing to low capacity utilisation by local industries, resulting in calls being made to turn to renewable energy sources such as solar and biogas.
A holder of Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of Zimbabwe, Ms Fundisayi Chigumadzi, heeded the call and came up with a solution through the establishment of TARMO POWER GROUP (TPG).
Officially registered in 2018, TPG is a purely Zimbabwean company dedicated to providing access to reliable, renewable, and clean energy for power generation, distribution to families, farmers, corporations, and
the mining industry. The company started operating in 2020 and is based in Harare.
“Our second area of focus is helping the Government, Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and private sector to improve the severe water and sanitation crisis across the country through supply of solar powered water generating pumps (borehole equipment included), installation services and repairs.
“It is even more vital now to have better access to clean water so that there is an improvement in better hygiene practices. The Covid-19 lockdowns exposed the need for clean water for drinking, handwashing and hygiene,” said Ms Chigumadzi who is the founder and managing director.
With TPG’s borehole solar pumps, solar panels and equipment, 29-yearold Ms Chigumadzi is helping budding smallholder farmers in particular, to meet their targeted production output as well as their water and sanitation projects.
She said: “Through the project, we seek to supply affordable solar and water solutions to communities and businesses in Zimbabwe.
“The purpose of this project is to increase the availability of affordable off-grid electrical and water solutions to communities and businesses in Zimbabwe.”
Last year, Ms Chigumadzi was one of the inaugural cohort of the United
States African Development Foundation (USADF) Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) grantees after going through entrepreneurship training. The programme entailed business management skills, financial management and marketing among other modules essential in running businesses.
The grant, a US$25 000 was a shot in the arm for TPG.
“The award of the grant has helped us to develop an implementation plan to guide the activities to be undertaken during the project year as well as determining the project deliverables and performance indicators.
“A final project budget was established, informed by sourced proforma invoices and cost estimates. The bid matrix assisted us to establish the best suppliers and supply value chain. We now have procurement documentation to purchase the much needed solar and irrigation inventory.”