Zibagwe Rural District Council (ZRDC) is a forerunner in guaranteeing that those furthest from essential services are not left in the dark by producing clean energy for the benefit of the community it serves. With worldwide interest in renewable energy sources gathering momentum, the rural council is moving with the modern times, making strides in clean energy through the installation of 47 biogas digesters in all its 33 wards.

ZRDC has its work cut out for it; it caters for a rural populace where women and girls have for generations been subjected to abuse as they look for alternate energy sources. They go for miles looking for water and especially firewood. With the advent of illegal mining in the Midlands province where ZRDC is located, cases of sexual abuse of women as they search for firewood has increased. Biogas’ clean cooking energy will replace the arduous task of gathering firewood and provide a safer and more sustainable alternative.

“Our pilot project which gave birth to the partnership between ZRDC and Gender Links was when we installed a biogas digester in Ward 30 in conjunction with Hope water Farm in 2022. We were the first council to undertake such a project which then led to us being identified by Gender Links and given funding to construct 46 more biogas digesters,” said Grace Nyikavaranda, the ZRDC Gender Focal person.

For Gender Links, the biogas project presented an effective tool to empower women, youths and men as well as promote Local Economic Development. According to Gender Links’ Regional Manager, Priscillla Maposa, the project aligned perfectly with the organizations’ commitment to sustainable and renewable energy sources that reduce women’s workload. “The biogas project implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works through support from the Embassy of Sweden in Zimbabwe showcased immense potential for local economic growth and job creation. By investing in this project, we were not only supporting the development of a sustainable energy infrastructure but also contributing to the local economy. The project offered a unique opportunity for Gender Links to collaborate with Zibagwe Rural District Council and foster community engagement. We firmly believe in the power of partnerships and working closely with communities to drive positive change,” said Priscilla.

A biogas digester is an airtight, oxygen-free system that provides an ideal environment with the necessary factors for a controlled anaerobic digestion to produce biogas. According to research, gas generated through bio digestion is non-polluting and reduces the greenhouse effect.  Since no combustion takes place in the bio digestion process, there is zero emission of greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere.

ZRDC has 33 wards and they currently all now have biogas digesters. Greentech a company from Harare that specializes in construction of biogas digesters was contracted to construct the biogas digesters. Greentech worked with youths from the different beneficiary wards empowering and equipping them with the skillset required in constructing and maintaining biogas digesters. The biogas digesters are placed at institutions like clinics and schools. This was mainly done because these are points where the whole community can access. Additionally, schools currently have a feeding scheme running where disadvantaged school children are given food at school. Instead of making the children come with firewood for the fire the biogas digesters are now put to good use. Most rural clinics have waiting mothers’ shelters where women who are about to give birth who don’t stay close to the clinics are housed until they give birth. Before these pregnant mothers had to look for firewood to be able to cook their meals, now life has been made easier.

“We had cases where heavily pregnant women were abused by makorokoza whilst they were looking for firewood. Most young girls were dropping out of school because most of their time was dedicated to looking for firewood and water. We hope that by making power readily available more girls will have ample time for school work. These digesters will go a long way in alleviating such abuses,” said Grace.

There are 30 beneficiaries that were targeted in each ward who will be directly responsible for the digesters. The communities will be selling the excess gas at subsidized prices that way every member of the community will benefit from the gas. The proceeds go to the construction of another biogas digester. The goal being to help alleviate poverty by addressing Sustainable Development Goals, in this case goal 7 that looks at affordable and clean energy.

George Ntini aged 43 from ward 32 in Zhombe is one of the beneficiaries. “This project is a welcome development in our community. We no longer have to worry about women being abused as they don’t  have to walk for long distances looking for firewood,” he said. Another direct beneficiary, Loveness Makusha aged 32 from ward 30 in Redcliff said that biogas is very cheap as all the resources needed are readily available. “What I also love is the gas isn’t flammable and is not a danger in our homes where we have little children. As a community we also benefit as we no longer cut down trees as much as before. Its clean energy that also saves our environment,” she said.

The by-product of the biogas generation process is enriched organic digestate, which is a perfect supplement to chemical fertilisers. The fertiliser discharge from the digester can accelerate plant growth and resilience to diseases, whereas commercial fertilizers contain chemicals that have toxic effects and can cause food poisoning, among other things. A household system pays for itself after a while and the materials used for generation are absolutely free. The gas produced can be used directly for cooking and generation of electricity. This is what allows the cost of biogas production to be relatively low.

“People are so excited about the project. They can connect all their electrical appliances which they haven’t been able to do all this while because of the unavailability of electricity in rural communities. We are encouraging the community to buy the biogas bag which we use to collect the biogas which costs $85 and the stove which costs $35,” Grace added.

Priscilla reiterated that by actively involving women in decision-making processes and ensuring their representation, Gender Links hopes to challenge traditional gender roles and create a more inclusive society. “We anticipate that gender-specific projects will have a positive ripple effect on the overall community. By addressing the specific needs and challenges faced by women, we can contribute to poverty reduction, improved health and general growth of the local economy,” she said.