The Impact of solar energy on improving socio-economic livelihoods: A case of Ward 14 (Kezi) in Matobo District Zimbabwe

Abstract

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.