Ivan Zhakata-Herald Correspondent
ZIMBABWE is targeting an increase in its installed renewable energy capacity to at least 2 640 megawatts by 2030, with solar power expected to drive the expansion to achieve universal access to electricity.
Energy and Power Development Minister July Moyo announced the target while addressing the 9th session of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) Assembly in New Delhi, India, yesterday.
Minister Moyo stated that Zimbabwe’s renewable energy capacity stood at 1 282MW in 2025, and the proposed expansion to 2 640MW by 2030 would represent approximately 49 percent of the country’s total electricity supply.
The expansion is deemed critical to achieving universal energy access by 2030 from the current national access level of 62 percent.
“Zimbabwe attaches great importance to its partnership with the International Solar Alliance as a strategic vehicle for advancing energy security, sustainable economic development and universal access to modern energy,” Minister Moyo said.
“The partnership should support Zimbabwe and other Member States’ national development priorities, strengthen energy security, diversify the electricity generation mix and accelerate private-sector participation.”
He outlined six priority areas of cooperation with the ISA, including affordable financing for solar investments, expansion of solar generation and energy storage, rural electrification, solar-powered agriculture, policy reforms and the development of local technical capabilities.
To attract private investors into the renewable energy sector, the Government is offering fiscal incentives such as duty exemptions on solar equipment and batteries, net metering arrangements, Prescribed Asset Status and project support agreements to mitigate investment risks.
On industrial development, Minister Moyo highlighted that Zimbabwe’s lithium processing capability offers opportunities for establishing a domestic battery manufacturing industry.
“Zimbabwe is the only African country which has started processing lithium ore to Lithium sulphate, which presents opportunities for scaling up to battery manufacturing,” he said, urging private sector investment in the battery value chain.
Zimbabwe and the ISA signed a Country Partnership Framework in August 2026 during the ISA Africa Regional Committee meeting in Victoria Falls, establishing a basis for cooperation in agricultural solarisation, capacity building and policy development. The partnership also facilitated the establishment of the STAR-C Centre at Chinhoyi University of Technology, focusing on solar skills development, equipment testing, standards development and research.
The Government has launched the Presidential Solarisation Programme targeting 1.2 million decentralised solar units by 2030, at an annual deployment rate of 200,000 households. Concurrently, the Rural Electrification Agency has identified sites for 440 solar mini-grids, with 100 having completed feasibility studies and 66 mini-grids ranging between 60kW and 220kW already deployed.
The national strategy aims to electrify all rural schools, clinics and public facilities by 2027, while the national borehole drilling programme is scheduled to provide solar-powered water systems to more than 35,000 villages.
Acknowledging that the implementation of certain initiatives has been slow, Minister Moyo called for increased concessional financing, pension fund participation and risk-mitigation instruments to accelerate projects. He proposed a focused implementation roadmap between Zimbabwe and the ISA with clearly defined financing arrangements and timelines.
“Our measure of success must ultimately be the additional megawatts installed, investments mobilised, communities electrified, irrigation schemes powered, jobs created and productive enterprises nurtured and supported,” Minister Moyo said, reaffirming Zimbabwe’s readiness to work with international partners to translate commitments into tangible outcomes.
