By BUSINESS REPORTER

BUSINESSMAN Edzai Kachirekwa and his company Power Giants Africa continue to receive international accolades with the latest ones at the Zambia Business Awards (Zaba) held recently.

Kachirekwa, who is the founding director of Power Giants Africa, was awarded the Businessman of the Year: Power Development and Renewable Energy Services Industry Africa Sadc Region.

His company received the Company of the Year: Power Development and Renewable Energy Services Industry Africa Sadc Region award.

The Zaba celebrates excellence, inspiration and success within the Zambian business community.

Kachirekwa attributed his successes to his faith in God that has led him to pursue excellence in the industry.

“In our industry we transform the challenges that we face as a nation into opportunities. My business attitude is in line with the word of God and these are the fruit of his blessings”

“My country Zimbabwe and other African nations cannot continue to experience power and energy deficits yet we have options that we can exploit including solar energy among others.”

Power Giants is  a local company that specialises in transmission power lines construction, solar systems including construction of solar grids, domestic, industrial, mining, agricultural and commercial installations.

The company recently entered into a smart energy partnership deal with GNEE China that aims to create a billion-dollar solar project to resolve Zimbabwe’s chronic power deficit.

A DUBAI-BASED company that specialises in Smart Traffic Management Systems (STMS), Vitronic Machine Vision Middle East, will initially invest between US$60 to 80 million in installation of the Smart Traffic Management System

Cabinet has approved the engagement of Vitronic Machine Vision Middle East in implementing an SMTS in Zimbabwe following a report presented by Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage minister Kazembe Kazembe.

The company visited the country recently to carry out a feasibility study and engage key stakeholders.

The project will be implemented under a Public-Private-Partnership model and will, at inception, be implemented in Harare and Bulawayo Metropolitan provinces.

“The installation of the Smart Traffic Management System will benefit Zimbabwe in a number of ways including the following: enforcement of the law by bringing to book all traffic regulation violators; reduction of road carnage; reduction of traffic congestion in the Central Business District; reduction in corruption as there will be minimal human intervention; improved revenue streams for Government which will be used to improve policing; and improved national security as intelligent cameras will be installed and linked to the database of stolen vehicles and wanted criminals,” reads part of Kazembe’s report.

The company will recover its investment from fines paid for traffic violations through a revenue sharing arrangement.

The company has installed similar systems in a number of countries including Morocco, Rwanda, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, France, Germany and Belarus.

PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has licensed Starlink to operate in Zimbabwe.

The following is Mnangagwa’s announcement on his official X handle today.

One of the strategic pillars that anchor the 2nd Republic’s developmental agenda under Vision 2030 is innovation, science and technology. Prioritization of the digital economy and the emerging importance of technology in our day to day activities requires Government to lead from the front in providing an environment where investment in technology is promoted.

In this vein, I’m pleased to announce that I have approved the licensing of Starlink by POTRAZ to provide advanced internet and related digital processing services in Zimbabwe through its sole and exclusive local partner, IMC Communications (Pvt) Ltd. Starlink @Starlink is a Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Satellite operator wholly owned by global conglomerate Space X led by promiment multi-billionaire @ElonMusk.

The entry by Starlink in the digital telecommunications space in Zimbabwe is expected to result in the deployment of high speed, low cost, LEO internet infrastructure throughout Zimbabwe and particularly in all the rural areas. This will be in fulfillment of my Administration’s undertaking to leave no one and no place behind. The investment confidence expressed by Starlink in Zimbabwe’s telecommunications infrastructure also dovetails with the 2nd Republic’s mantra, “Zimbabwe is open for business”. I encourage more investment by foreign conglomerates in Zimbabwe as we are an investment destination of choice.

I take this opportunity, on behalf of the Government of Zimbabwe, to congratulate IMC Communications (Pvt) Ltd and Starlink on this commendable milestone aimed at revolutionizing the digital and communications technology landscape in Zimbabwe. Investments of this magnitude and strategic importance represent the cornerstone for achieving the 2nd Republic’s objective of having a fully digitalized, upper-middle income economy by 2030.