The new Minister of Energy and Power Development Fortune Chasi has got off at his new responsibility with a bang of controversial positions.

His first move on assuming office was to instruct power utility company ZPC to recover $5m advanced to Intratek Director Wicknell Chivayo for the Gwanda Solar project besides the courts ruling on favour of Chivayo.

In his latest stunt has told Zimbabweans who are failing to get fuel to purchase electric cars.

Speaking at a Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) ISO Certification event on Friday, Chasi said,

“May I challenge all present to seriously consider electric vehicles. I am happy ZERA has already made overtures in this regard.

“We also would expect the electric vehicles to be charged from renewable sources i.e. Solar Parks, solar radiation is a free resource, you only pay for the extraction and usage costs.”

The minister also said that the task of procuring fuel for the country was not solely for the government.

“I have seen some people dropping this task on my shoulders alone or on the shoulders of the government alone.”

“All of us here have a responsibility. Those that use fuel, those that import it, those of us who are in government, we all need to play a role in the coming up with a lasting solution to this problem so that we re-enact the dignity of our people who spend time in queues.”

“We don’t believe that it’s solely an issue of foreign currency. We also want to look on the other side as to what can be done, issues of solar need to come into play.”