Access to solar energy has positively affected people worldwide; more so, the lives of
women have been greatly improved, particularly in rural areas. This qualitative study
deploys the comparative research approach with the aim to understand the
socio-economic impact on the livelihoods of the people of Matobo District Ward 14, in
Zimbabwe. The study employed the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework as the
theoretical framework to contextualise the study.
Data collection was conducted through semi-structured interviews, focus group
discussions and key informant interviews with selected participants through WhatsApp
video and audio due to Covid-19 restrictions on physical interaction. The 30 participants
in the study were selected through purposive sampling and snowball sampling
approaches. Participants included councillors, village heads, health and education
personnel, NGO field workers, business owners and local villagers with and without
access to solar power.
The data was analysed using thematic content analysis. The findings reveal that the
access to solar energy has generally improved the socio-economic livelihoods of the
Matobo District Ward 14 residents. Specifically, access to solar energy had a greater
positive impact on financial, physical, social and human capitals. The impact on natural
capital can only be determined in the long term. The study recommended, amongst other
things, the continuation of support from government and international and local NGOs.
The study also recommends further solar electricity expansion to remedy the rural poverty
and reduce social and economic inequality due to disproportionate access to and
ownership of solar panels.
Ukuthola amandla elanga kube nomthelela omuhle kubantu emhlabeni wonke; ngaphezu
kwalokho, izimpilo zabesifazane zibe ngcono kakhulu, ikakhulukazi ezindaweni
zasemakhaya. Lolu cwaningo oluphathelene nesimo lusebenzisa indlela yocwaningo
yokuqhathanisa ngenhloso yokuqonda umthelela wenhlalonhle-yomnotho ezimpilweni
zabantu baseSigcemeni se-14 saseMatobo, eZimbabwe. Lolu cwaningo lusebenzise
Uhlaka Lwezimpilo Ezisimeme njengohlaka lwethiyori ukuze luhambisane nesimo
socwaningo.
Ukuqoqwa kwedatha kwenziwa ngezingxoxo ezihleliwe, izingxoxo zamaqembu
okugxilwe kuwo kanye nezingxoxo zabanolwazi ababalulekile nabakhethiwe ngevidiyo
ye-WhatsApp nomsindo ngenxa yemikhawulo ye-Covid-19 yokuxhumana ngokomzimba.
Ababambiqhaza abangama-30 ocwaningweni bakhethwa ngokusebenzisa amasampula
okuhlosiwe kanye nezindlela zokusampula zesnowball. Abahlanganyeli bahlanganisa
amakhansela, izinhloko zedolobhana, abasebenzi bezempilo nezemfundo, abasebenzi
bezinhlangano Ezingekho Ngaphansi kukaHulumeni ezaziwa ngokuthi ngama-NGO,
abanikazi bamabhizinisi kanye nezakhamuzi zendawo ezikwazi ukuthola noma
ezingenawo amandla kagesi welanga.
Idatha yahlaziywa kusetshenziswa ukuhlaziya okuqukethwe kwetimu. Okutholakele
kuveza ukuthi ukutholakala kwamandla elanga sekwenze kwaphucula impilo
yenhlalakahle yezomnotho kuzakhamizi zeSigceme se-14 saseMatobo. Ikakhulukazi,
ukufinyelela kumandla elanga kube nomthelela omuhle kakhulu kwezezimali,
ngokomzimba, kwezenhlalakahle kanye nabantu. Umthelela emalini yemvelo
unganqunywa kuphela esikhathini eside. Ucwaningo lwancoma, phakathi kwezinye
izinto, ukuqhubeka kokwesekwa kukahulumeni kanye nezinhlangano ezizimele zamazwe
ngamazwe nezendawo. Lolu cwaningo luphinde luncome ukunwetshwa kukagesi
welanga ukuze kulungiswe ubumpofu basezindaweni zasemakhaya futhi kuncishiswe
ukungalingani kwezenhlalo nezomnotho ngenxa yokungafinyeleleki okulinganiselwe
kanye nobunikazi bamaphaneli elanga
U swikelela fulufulu zwo kwama nga nḓila ya vhuḓi vhathu ḽifhasini; nga yeneyo nḓila,
matshilo a vhafumakadzi o khwinisea zwihulwane, nga maanḓa vhuponi ha mahayani.
Ngudo iyi ya khwaḽithethivi yo dzudzanya kuitele kwa ṱhoḓiso ya mbambedzo hu na
muhumbulo wa u pfesesa mveledzwa dza ikonomi ya matshilisano kha matshilo a vhathu
vha Wadi 14 Tshiṱirikini tsha Matobo, Zimbambwe. Ṱhoḓisiso yo shumisa Furemiweke ya
Nḓila dza u tshila dzi sa Nyeṱhi sa furemiweke ine nḓivho yoṱhe ya ngudo ya bva khayo
u bveledza ngudo.
U kuvhanganya data ho itwa nga kha inthaviwu dza mbudziso dzi songo dzudzanywaho,
therisano dzo sedzaho kha tshigwada na inthaviwu dza vhathu vha re na ndivho na
vhadzheneli vho nangwaho nga kha odio na WhatsApp vidio zwo itiswa nga phimo ya
Covid-19 ya vhukwamani. Vhadzheneli vha 30 kha ngudo vho khethwa nga kha maitele
a tsumbonanguludzwa dzo sedzaho kha zwiṱaluli na tsumbonanguludzwa dza u livhiswa
nga mudzheneli. Vhadzheneli hu katelwa vhakhantseḽara, magota, vhashumeli vha
mutakalo na vha pfunzo, vhashumela nnḓa vha NGO, vhoramabindu na vhadzulapo
vhane vha kona u swikelela fulufulu ḽa ḓuvha.
Data yo saukanywa hu tshi shumiswa musaukanyo wa u saukanya data wa
khwaḽithethivi. Mawanwa o bvisela khagala uri u swikelela fulufulu ḽa ḓuvha zwo khwinisa
zwihulwane ikonomi ya matshilisano kha matshilo a vhadzulapo vha Wadi 14 Tshiṱirikini
tsha Matobo. Nga maanḓa, u swikelela fulufulu ḽa ḓuvha ho vha na mveledzwa dzavhuḓi
kha masheleni, zwifhaṱo, matshilisano na ndeme ya ikonomi ya tshenzhemo na zwikili
zwa vhashumi. Mveledzwa kha ndaka ya zwiko dzi nga tiwa lwa tshifhinga tshilapfu.
Ngudo yo themendela, vhukati ha zwinzhi, u bvela phanḓa na u tikedza u bva kha
muvhuso na dzi NGO dzapo kana dza muvhuso. Ngudo yo dovha ya themendela
nyengedzedzo i yaho phanḓa ya fulufulu ḽa ḓuvha sa khakhululo ya vhushai ha vhuponi
ha mahayani na u fhungudza u sa lingana kha matshilisano na ikonomi zwi tshi itiswa
nga u sa swikelela u lingana kha na u vha na soḽaphaneḽe.
