zimbabwe capital turns to solar streetlights to cut costs, crime: trfn

Harare by madrito Mwando (
Thomson Reuters Foundation-
Big cities around the world are fighting crime, and Harare in Zimbabwe is no exception.
Naison Gumpo, a journalism student studying in the capital, knows this very well.
\"I was robbed in the central business district and lost my jacket, wallet and passport.
A long time ago, I stopped walking in the city center at night, \"said gumbo, recalling a familiar story in the city of more than 3 million people.
With street lights that regularly cut off, \"the streets of Harare have become shelters for robberies, and even those who drive are not safe,\" he said . \".
According to the website that monitors the crime in Harare, in January 2015, only more than 20% of the city\'s residents said it felt safe to walk alone at night.
But the city\'s ambitious urban lighting program can provide relief for many residents.
Harare City Council is installing solar energy
Electric street lights will illuminate the central business district at night and plans to expand the project to other parts of the city.
The country is increasingly turning to solar energy to meet energy needs, and the government wants to build billions-
If you can find the investment you need, the dollar solar plant is spread all over the country.
According to Harare municipal officials, solar street lights will reduce electricity bills and save the city about $200,000 a month.
The $15 million solar street lamp project is a project that works with a company in Zambia.
The first stage of rolling-
According to town staff Tendai Mahachi, out is located in the central business district and plans to expand the project to provide street lighting throughout the city.
Solar projects will also be developed in other cities, and Gweru, China\'s third-largest city, plans to install solar-
Electric street lights.
Michael Chideme, spokesman for Harare, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation that,
The annual project will install 4,000 solar street lamps in the city.
\"We started with the central business district and then we will move to other parts of the city,\" Chideme said . \".
Residents say the solar switch comes as the country continues to face a power outage that affects street lights and increases criminal opportunities in the dark of the streets at night.
However, the installation of solar energy has been put on hold in Harare --
The traffic lights were launched on the grounds of lack of funds.
Collins mabasso said: \"It makes sense to switch to solar energy because the sun is free and most cities fail to serve public facilities due to lack of funds, vendors selling fruit, candy and mobile phone prepaid cards in the central business district.
\"I work late and I know the darkness of these streets.
\"It\'s worse in villages and towns,\" he told Thomson Reuters Foundation . \".
The Ministry of Energy Development says expanding the use of solar energy will help ease China\'s long-term
Energy crisis.
On February, Meeco, an international company that worked with local players, announced that the government granted the company a plan to invest $0. 4 billion in the \"national project status\" of the solar plant, which means that Meeco will be exempt from tax while Zimbabwe-
Chinese companies are also planning to build a $1 billion solar plant in southwest China\'s Lupane.
However, people worry about the capital --
As the government strives to engage international partners and investors in these projects, intensive solar projects may be delayed. (
Reported by Madalitso Mwando;
Editor Laurie Goring)