daniel chigunwe
Blessings Chidakwa
Herald Reporter
ZIMBABWE is actively seeking new partnerships in the energy sector to meet the growing demand driven by rapid modernisation and the expansion of infrastructure projects across the country, President Mnangagwa has said.
In a speech read on his behalf by Energy and Power Development Minister July Moyo at the Africa Heads of State Energy Summit at Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, yesterday, President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe was facing energy challenges due to recurrent droughts which have affected power generation at its hydropower plants on Lake Kariba.
The summit, attended by 20 Heads of State and other top dignitaries, is running under the theme “Mission 300”.
It aims to address energy sector gaps, infrastructure needs, and critical reforms to attract investment and mobilise resources across five key pillars.
These include expanding cost-competitive generation, enhancing regional power sector integration, and promoting distributed renewable energy (DRE) and clean cooking solutions to increase affordable and sustainable energy access.
“Climate change is real and a cause for concern. Zimbabwe and Zambia have experienced frequent droughts, which have devastated power supplies from hydroelectric plants. We need to mitigate against such future occurrences by diversifying our energy sources. There is an urgent need to increase the share of other renewable sources such as solar, wind, and biomass in the energy mix,” said President Mnangagwa.
He added that Zimbabwe has created an enabling environment for private investors, offering tax incentives and cost-reflective tariffs to attract investment in the energy sector.
“We invite international cooperating partners to partner with us
and play a catalytic role in this programme,” the President said.
He said energy is critical for achieving Vision 2030, which aims to transform Zimbabwe into an upper-middle-income economy.
President Mnangagwa also expressed enthusiasm about the proposed interconnector between Zambia and Tanzania, funded by the World Bank, which will enhance regional energy integration.
However, he cautioned that commitments made through the Dar es Salaam Declaration would remain theoretical without tangible funding.
“I wish to express my gratitude to the African Development Bank and the World Bank for their continued support. We are determined to develop our Energy Compact in the next phase of the initiative,” President Mnangagwa said.
Currently, Zimbabwe’s average electricity access rate stands at 62 percent, with Government aiming for universal access by 2030.
This ambitious goal requires electrifying more than 500 000 households annually, up from the current average of 30 000.
To bridge this gap, the Government is promoting the use of solar systems in rural areas, targeting the distribution of 1.2 million solar home systems by 2030.
“This will be financed mostly through local resources,” President Mnangagwa said.
The President highlighted that massive developmental projects, such as the Dinson Iron and Steel Plant, the largest integrated steel production facility in Africa, are driving up energy consumption.
“The processing of minerals is energy-intensive. There is a correlation between a country’s socio-economic development and its energy consumption level,” he said.
Zimbabwe’s current maximum energy demand is around 1 900 MW, but this is projected to rise to 5 600 MW by 2030.
However, the country’s installed capacity of 2 950 MW is underutilised, with only 1 300 MW achievable due to low water levels at the Kariba Hydro Power Plant and unreliable generation at aging thermal plants.
The deficit is currently covered by imports from South Africa and Mozambique.
Zimbabwe is interconnected to its neighbours through four 400 kVA interconnectors; Songo (Mozambique), Matimba (South Africa), Phoebe (Botswana), and another to Zambia.
Despite this, the country’s energy consumption per capita of 500 kWh lags behind other middle-income nations like South Africa, which has a per capita consumption of 3 000 kWh.
President Mnangagwa challenged fellow leaders to consider the plight of those still living without electricity.
“Think about the child using candles to study, the pregnant woman delivering a baby in darkness, and the household without potable water. This situation is typical of many countries in Africa, and the major cause is the failure to access electricity services,” he said.
The President’s call for partnerships and investment in the energy sector underscores Zimbabwe’s commitment to achieving sustainable development and improving the quality of life for its citizens.
Online Reporter
