Dorset Business Owners Celebrate New Electricity Connection

By Dumisani Ndlovu

Shurugwi - Entrepreneurs and residents in the Dorset Resettlement area, Shurugwi South, are celebrating the arrival of reliable electricity to their once-neglected business center, which was long overdue.

After decades of relying on costly diesel generators and enduring the limitations of inconsistent alternative power, local business owners now have a renewed sense of optimism as the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) recently successfully connected their hub to the national electricity grid.

The transformation has been nothing short of revolutionary for a community that once operated in the shadows, both literally and economically.

For years, Dorset’s small traders, farmers and artisans struggled to keep their operations afloat, hindered by high fuel expenses, shortened business hours and the unpredictability of generator maintenance.

Now, with stable power flowing through newly installed lines, doors are set to open earlier, refrigerators humming with life and dreams of expansion are beginning to crystallize into plans.

“I can’t even begin to express how much this means to us. We used to close by six because fuel was too expensive to run the generator longer.

"Now, we can stay open until eight or nine, serve more customers and even stock perishable goods like milk and meat.

"It’s not just convenience, it’s dignity. We’re finally being treated like part of the country’s economy," said Patricia Patiwa, who runs a general store in the Dorset Business Centre.

Her sentiments were echoed by one local carpenter who however declined to be identified.

“Before, every time the generator failed, which was often, we’d lose hours of productive time. Now I can run my machines all day. I’ve already taken on two more apprentices and am looking into starting a small workshop.

"This connection has lifted a huge burden off our shoulders," he said.

The journey to connection, however, was anything but simple. A rural outpost that should have been electrified decades ago, Dorset faced a history of broken promises, bureaucratic delays, and even outright theft.

In 2007, a transformer destined for the Dorset Business Centre was allegedly uprooted by ZESA (Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority) workers before it could be connected to the grid and was diverted, locals say, to serve another area with stronger political influence.

The community was left in darkness, forced to rely on makeshift solutions.

Then in 2009, hope flickered again. The European Union donated a new, modern transformer intended for the Dorset Clinic, aiming to upgrade healthcare services in the area, but, once again, tragedy struck. Again individuals claiming to be ZESA technicians arrived in broad daylight, removed the transformer, and vanished with it.

Locals believe it was sold to a private farmer, while the clinic was left with a faulty replacement that frequently failed, undermining medical services at the health facility.

As a result, the clinic was forced to rely on solar power, limiting its ability to store vaccines and run essential medical equipment.

“They came pretending to fix things, but they only made them worse,” recalled Tafara Mubereki, a community elder and smallholder farmer.

“We didn’t understand the technical side of things, we trusted them but instead of helping us, they took advantage of our vulnerability. It took years of advocacy, media attention and sheer persistence to finally get here,” he said.

Mubereki credited local journalists and civic activists for amplifying the voices of Dorset’s villagers.

“The media played a crucial role. When the then Midlands Monitor Newspaper did their investigative report on the stolen transformer and our struggle for electricity, it sparked a national conversation.

"REA officials noticed, pressure mounted, and slowly wheels began to turn," he said.

Locals said the role of media and civil society in holding institutions accountable cannot be overstated.

Without public scrutiny, Dorset might have remained another forgotten village on the map of Shurugwi if not Zimbabwe’s uneven development, they said.

Now, with the grid connection finally realized, opportunities are opening.

Siphosami Ndlovu, a young entrepreneur with a passion for art, technology and education, is planning to build digital library in the rural setting.

“Electricity is the foundation of modern development,” he said, adding that “With this connection, I can power computers, offer internet access and host training sessions for youth. This isn’t just about lighting bulbs, it’s about lighting minds.

"I want to create jobs, train people in digital skills, and close the urban-rural knowledge gap," he said.

The Rural Electrification Agency (REA), formerly known as the Rural Electrification Fund (REF), is the statutory body driving the Dorset Business Centre change.

Established under the Rural Electrification Fund Act (Chapter 13:20), with its headquarters in Harare’s Megawatt Building, REA was created to address the glaring disparities in energy access between urban and rural Zimbabwe.

Following independence in 1980, the government recognized that true national development required more than city-centric growth. Rural electrification became a priority, a tool for social and financial empowerment.

In 1997, the Rural Electrification Unit was formed within ZESA to implement policy initiatives aimed at bridging the energy divide.

The results were visible, with more schools, clinics, and cooperatives gaining access to power.

But real structural progress came in 2002, when the Rural Electrification Fund Act and the Electricity Act were enacted. These laws gave REA greater autonomy and funding mechanisms, allowing it to partner with donors, mobilize resources and implement projects with community input.

Today, REA’s vision is to become the leading force in Zimbabwe’s rural energy infrastructure development. Its mandate includes identifying electrification projects in collaboration with communities, ensuring cost-effective implementation and serving as a center of excellence through research and innovation.

As such, the Dorset connection is a testament to that mission, symbolising not just wires and transformers, but resilience, accountability and the power of collective voice.

Yet, challenges remain. Some villagers still await indoor connections, relying on poles for limited access.

Others worry about future maintenance and tariff affordability. REA officials, however, say they are committed to phased rollouts and ongoing support.

“We know this is just the beginning,” said one REA official who declined to be identified due to protocol during a recent site visit.

“Our goal is 100% rural electrification. Dorset is a success story, but it’s also a blueprint, proof that when communities, government and development partners’ work together, transformation is possible," the official said.