Shop selling solar products in Mashaba
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Authors
Annie Halliman
Issue Date
2016-04
Type
Language
en
Keywords
Energy
Alternative Title
Abstract
Practical Action's Sustainable Energy 4 Rural Communities (SE4RC) project is providing access to modern energy services in poor and remote locations in Zimbabwe. Winnie Sebata is a retired primary school teacher with 7 grown up children and is caring for 3 orphaned nieces. He works in a shop in Mashaba, in the Gwanda District of Zimbabwe. He told us "my wife owns the shop and I work for her. My wife is on a course for hairdressing. The shop previously belonged to my wife’s parents. We have been assisted to sell electric solar products such as solar lights, batteries, tvs, radios and fans. Earlier on in the year, in December, they were not selling well as the dry period meant that food was more important to buy. Now they have begun to sell, especially as people have seen them used elsewhere." "People are also travelling from Gwanda as the electricity supply is not very good there. The only disadvantage is that the stock is of a good standard and others are selling cheaper but poorer quality products. A solar panel costs $120 and a homestead would need 3. Solar lights are the most popular products." "We hope that irrigation will improve crops, so that everyone will have their own food and also enough to sell. This will mean that people will have more time and also the income will assist to educate children. We really hope this project will change the lives of this community and change the lives of people of Zimbabwe.” "History has shown that people in the outskirts are neglected by government. So we are lucky to have been chosen. We are 8km from the border, so hopefully cross-border traffic will open up more business opportunities. I am also extending my business into a butchers and a bar, I will buy the meat from local farmers and will employ local people to work there."