38 Table 4.3 Important use of electricity ranked by residents during FGDs ---39 Table 4.4 Number of electrified institutions per department ---42 Table 4.5 Use of electricity in areas identified by residents during focus group discussion. 52 Table 4.7 Socio-demographic group ranked in or by priority in benefiting from rural electrification ---53 Table 4.10 Benefits to residents through rural electrification of Insiza South District in Zimbabwe ---62 Table 5.1 Interventions by specific stakeholders to improve access to electricity ---75.
INTRODUCTION
- Background of the Study
- Rural Electrification in Zimbabwe
- Statement of the Research Problem
- Research Objectives
- Research Hypotheses
- Operational Definitions of Key Terms and Concepts
- Outline of Dissertation
Rural electrification was intended to drive the industrialization processes in rural areas (Campbell, et al., 2003). The main objective of the current study was to analyze the benefits to residents from the rural electrification program implemented in Insiza South District in Zimbabwe.
LITERATURE REVIEW
- Introduction
- Rural Electrification in Perspective
- Perceived Benefits Accruing from Rural Electrification
- The Extent to which the Original Objectives of Electrification were Achieved
- Factors Contributing to the Success of Electrification Programmes
- Benefits Accruing to Gender and Socio Demographic Group of Residents
- Theoretical Framework of the Study: Appreciative Inquiry (AI) Model (4-D cycle)
- Summary of Literature Review
This part of the review sought to highlight the factors that contribute to the success of electrification programmes. All of these success stories encourage research into the benefits rural residents have experienced.
RESEARCH METHODOLODY
- Introduction
- Description of the Study Area
- Ethical Values of Research
- Research Design
- Data collection
- Data Analysis
Permission from the office of the District Administrator (DA) (See Appendix 8) and the Insiza Rural District Council (IRDC) (Appendix 9) was granted prior to data collection. Results from both phases were analyzed and combined to complete the study. The results of phase one and two were later combined to come up with the study's conclusions.
The large institutions that participated in the survey had more male than female employees, as evidenced by the fact that of the eight key informants interviewed, six were male. Methodical application of qualitative and quantitative methods, techniques and tools was used to understand the bigger picture of the collected data (Gelman et al., 2014). The inclusion of these images in this study further illustrates the authenticity of the collected data and how the method of methodological innovation (Onwuegbuzie et al., 2010) was used to underpin the study's data collection methods and techniques.
DATA PRESENTATION, INTERPRETATION AND ANALYSIS
Introduction
Research Participants
A summary of the residents who participated in the collection of data from each ward and village is presented in Table 4.1. One participant explained that residents from Sibantubanye and Mbembesi villages were usually forced by their community leaders to attend ward meetings. Those who were unwilling to participate were allegedly excluded from government programs and food aid from non-governmental organizations.
However, their contribution to discussions and interviews was essential due to the nature of the investigation, which was even welcomed by local authorities. The low figures of representation from the two villages were explained by one respondent who said that despite the long distance from the center, the residents of the two villages were always reluctant to attend meetings. Those who were threatened with starvation by their leaders removing them from the donor food distribution list felt compelled by their situation to attend community meetings.
Perceived Benefits Accruing from Rural Electrification
- Economic benefits of rural electrification
- Social benefits of rural electrification
- Environmental benefits of rural electrification
The use of electricity cannot be fully linked to an improvement in economic activity or be considered an insignificant need. Use of electricity for milling dominated all entire groups, with three of the seven groups choosing it as the most significant use of electricity. Use of electricity for business projects, water pumping, refrigeration of medicine and medicine in clinics, and communication had the fewest choices.
Instead, the value of electricity was strongly linked to processing their agricultural products and to schooling. During FGDs, education was enabled/promoted by the availability of electricity in schools, e.g. introduction of computer studies, rural teacher retention improved. However, during FGDs, televisions and radios were ranked as the least important benefits of using electricity.
Determinants of Perceived Benefits of Rural Electrification
- Introduction of electrification in Insiza District
- Aims of the Rural Electrification programme in Insiza South District
- Institutions coordinating the programme
- Alternative forms of energy in the rural electrification matrix
Interviews conducted with REA staff revealed that the Parliament of Zimbabwe passed the Rural Electrification Fund Act (Chapter 1:20 of 2002) in 2002, which improved the focus and recognition of the program in the country. Despite the adoption of the REF as the Ministry of Finance for the program, key informants indicated that the program lacked strong financial and institutional support, hence the slow progress. The REA informant further stated that the expansion of the energy and development policy mandate aimed to utilize other energy sources and increase the overall use of clean energy in rural areas.
Statistical data showed that the goal of the program had been achieved in terms of linking rural growth points and institutions. The IRDC indicated that residents provided labor during the implementation, expansion and maintenance of the grid in their communities. The REA and IRDC respondents indicated that the expansion of the REA mandate created a platform for institutions to collaborate and adopt alternative ways to power rural residents.
Description and Discussion of Results
- Benefits accruing to residents through rural electrification of Insiza South
The results of chi square (P < and 0.008) showed that the perception of basic benefits was the significance of the effect of availability and access to electricity in the study area. Supporting the study's findings, Lehmann et al. (2008) further argued that rural electrification has improved health, education and communication in rural areas. Although there is a significant link between electricity availability and modern use, the FDG reported that residents were not connected to the grid, resulting in households not using modern appliances.
The results showed that productive use of electricity in rural areas was one of the least benefits for villagers. Residents concluded that REP has not reached the supply of electricity to rural areas, there was no equal distribution of electricity to rural areas, especially in Matabeleland and Insiza in particular. Fundamental, productive and modern use of electricity and their association with neighborhood and gender is presented where Chi Square levels of significance values are calculated.
Challenges Facing Rural Electrification Programme
The table also shows the extent of the significance of benefits for residents expressed in percentages. The table reflects that there is little statistical association between gender and accidental benefits (ns= not statistically significant). The government subsidized the joining of institutions according to the policy objectives, but it was expensive for residents to join without the government subsidy.
One of the respondents indicated that there were no grants in 2016 to support the program. The government faced challenges in repaying debts incurred during the planning and procurement of capital for the project.
Conclusions
Zomers (2014) noted that most successful REPs in the developing world resulted from government grants to the process of over 50%. Although these institutions operated separately, their roles and contributions played an important role in the results achieved so far.
GENERAL DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
Residents Perceived Benefits Accruing from Rural Electrification
Understanding the objectives of the REP and its associated importance was essential in this study because this would help inform policy makers and academics on how electrification programs can contribute to rural development. Such researchers did not consider other factors, such as consumer willingness to use and maintain the project, financial implications of using project benefits, and its sustainability for households. The main reason for a limited number of household connections to the grid may be cost implications and knowledge of the value of electricity.
This cost was important to consider as the respondent indicated that a single step-down transformer serves and averages one kilometer radius. As a result, those who managed to get connected were wealthy enough to balance such costs and the main network passed by their homesteads. This was echoed by one of the respondents who admitted after the FGDs that he is a different person in terms of knowledge about the value of electricity and how it can transform their lives.
Determinants of Perceptions regarding Benefits
A Synthesis of Benefits Accruing to Residents through Rural Electrification in Insiza
Some services are predicted to improve as residents access and use electricity (Hirmer & Cruickshank, 2014; Zomers, 2014). The benefits of electrification are classified into educational, communication, entertainment, spiritual, health, hygiene and entrepreneurial projects. The above mentioned categories are the broad benefits of electrification as also found in this investigation.
An entrepreneurial culture is required to bring innovation and modern solutions to address rural challenges such as lack of clean water and unemployment. It is up to the government and residents to improve rural livelihoods through cooperation and working together for a developmental goal.
Evaluation of Rural Electrification Objectives
In this study, several factors were identified that contributed to the fact that the desired VE targets could not be achieved. Resource constraints and lack of institutional support contributed to slow progress and stagnation of rural development initiatives. It is still not clear if accessibility means that electricity is available to residents or when there is a power grid past the village.
This is because national reports give outstanding success rates of the rural electrification program, but the total usage is still very low. Economic collapse and scattered settlement patterns in rural areas contributed to slow progress of the REP. In this case, it can be seen that although RE aims to improve the socio-economic viability of rural communities, such goals are still politically motivated, which also contributes to slow progress.
Key actors to be Actively Involved for a Sustainable REP in Insiza
It was also noted that the government had neglected the allocation of budgets for RE implementation for some time.
Limitations of the Study
The Welfare Effects of Rural Electrification: A Panel Analysis of Vietnam Data, Economic Development and Cultural Change. Techno-Economic Sizing of an Off-Grid Hybrid Renewable Energy System for Rural Electrification in Sri Lanka. Off-Grid Systems for Rural Electrification in Developing Countries: Definitions, Classification and Comprehensive Literature Review.
Stakeholder Perceptions of the Socio-Economic Benefits of the Rural Electrification Program in Zimbabwe: The Case of Umzingwane District. Evaluating Options for Sustainable Rural Electrification in Developing Countries: A Multi-Criteria Approach, Energy Policy. The role of renewable energy technologies for rural electrification in achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Nepal.
Sample of Results
Information Sheet for Respondents
Consent Form
Key Informant Interview Guide
What other forms of clean energy can be used to improve access to clean energy in rural areas. What could be the role of the council and residents in improving access to clean energy in Insiza.
Individual Resident Questionnaire
Restaurants and hotels Small-scale food vending Informal business services e.g. hair care 3.3 Modern use a) ironing household appliances. Use electric irons iv) Electric cookers vi) Air conditioning f) To improve the viability of socio-economic .. projects and business units such as the following: .. i) Broiler farming ii) Water pumps iii) Welding iv) Boiler making v) Milling . vi) Manufacturing vii) Irrigation.
Focus Group Discussion Guide
In the box below, write down what you think is the importance of electricity in your area. List the advantages and disadvantages of using the following as household energy sources. What can be done and by whom to improve access to energy in your community.
Ethical Clearance Letter
Approval Letter to Conduct Study from the District Administrator
Approval Letter to Conduct Study from Insiza Rural District Council
