Rural provinces set to benefit from Presidential solar initiative

Staff Reporter

Over one million rural households across eight provinces are set to gain access to reliable and sustainable energy through the Presidential Rural Solarisation Project, Cabinet announced yesterday.

The initiative, which aims to provide solar power to at least 200 000 households annually, was approved during a Cabinet meeting yesterday and is slated to begin next year.

 Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr. Jenfan Muswere outlined the project’s scope during a post-Cabinet media briefing.

“Cabinet approved the Presidential Solarisation Project, a livelihoods initiative aimed at providing sustainable renewable solar energy to household beneficiaries in the eight rural provinces of the country. The project targets approximately 200 000 beneficiaries a year and will run for a period of five years starting from 2025,” said Dr. Muswere.

The initiative seeks to improve energy access, uplift rural living standards, and promote sustainable development as part of the broader Rural Development 8.0 Strategy. 

The strategy focuses on enhancing agricultural productivity, boosting food security, and transforming rural livelihoods.

The Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA) will lead the implementation of the project, working through an inter-ministerial steering committee that includes experts from local universities. 

Government, in collaboration with other stakeholders, will finance the initiative.

Dr. Muswere explained that the program would offer affordable yet advanced solar technologies, including batteries, inverters, solar panels, and cables, to power various household gadgets such as light bulbs, radios, televisions, laptops, and small refrigerators. 

Submersible pumps and Wi-Fi connectivity are also part of the package.

Additionally, local youths and women will be trained to participate in the installation of solar systems, fostering employment and skills development in rural communities.

Zimbabwe’s traditional power infrastructure has struggled to meet growing electricity demand, compounded by successive droughts that have reduced hydropower generation capacity. 

While Government continues to refurbish and expand the Kariba and Hwange power plants, it is also pushing for greater adoption of renewable energy to bridge the gap.

The Presidential Solarisation Project forms part of the National Renewable Energy Policy, which aims to achieve 1 100 MW of renewable energy capacity by 2025.