Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba Midlands Bureau
GWERU City Council (GCC) is pursuing a potentially game-changing 200-megawatt solar farm through a proposed joint venture, as the local authority moves to diversify its revenue base and turn municipal assets into productive commercial ventures.
The ambitious renewable energy project, now at an advanced stage of negotiations, could position Gweru as a significant player in Zimbabwe’s growing green energy sector while creating a potentially lucrative income stream for the cash-strapped local authority.
Beyond powering municipal operations, the proposed solar farm could potentially feed surplus electricity into the national grid, attract energy-intensive investment and stimulate economic activity across a range of sectors.
GCC economic and business development manager Mr Rodwell Musiiwa said negotiations over the proposed joint venture were progressing, although the final structure of the investment was yet to be concluded.
“We are at the advanced stages of negotiations for a possible joint venture for a 200-megawatt solar farm. The project has the potential to create a significant new income stream for the city through electricity generation while reducing its reliance on the national grid,” he said.
The project forms part of a broader strategy by the Midlands capital to strengthen its financial sustainability by reducing dependence on traditional municipal revenue streams.
Mr Musiiwa said reliable and sustainable energy could also make Gweru more attractive to investors and businesses, with potential spin-offs for the construction, engineering, manufacturing and services sectors.
“This project has the potential to transform our energy landscape, reduce reliance on the national grid and position Gweru as a leader in renewable energy,” he said.
The proposed solar farm is one of several commercial ventures being pursued by the council as it seeks to build a broader economic base capable of supporting service delivery and infrastructure development.
Truckstop expansion
GCC is also expanding its truckstop, with the construction of a restaurant and beverage shop underway under the second phase of the project.
Mr Musiiwa said construction is expected to be completed by the end of September.
“We are setting up a restaurant and beverage shop at our truckstop, and we expect to finish construction by the end of September 2026,” he said.
The expanded facility is expected to strengthen Gweru’s position as a strategic transport and logistics hub, offering additional services to long-haul truck drivers, travellers and other road users using the country’s major transit routes.
The development is also expected to create employment and open business opportunities for local suppliers and service providers while boosting commercial activity around the facility.
“The development is expected to create employment and generate business opportunities for local suppliers and service providers, while increasing commercial activity around the truckstop,” said
Mr Musiiwa.
Council ventures into wheat farming
In another effort to unlock value from its assets, the local authority has ventured into commercial agriculture and currently has 43 hectares under wheat production.
The crop is at the booting stage, with the council projecting a harvest of at least 200 tonnes by October.
“We have 43 hectares of wheat which is now at the booting stage. We are expecting at least 200 tonnes of wheat by October 2026,” said Mr Musiiwa.
The anticipated harvest is expected to contribute to food security while creating opportunities for downstream linkages with the milling and baking industries.
Mr Musiiwa said the three initiatives — renewable energy, transport infrastructure and agriculture — demonstrate the council’s deliberate shift towards commercialising municipal assets and creating alternative sources of income.
He said the local authority was increasingly looking beyond its traditional role of collecting rates and providing basic services to become an active participant in economic development.
“These projects reflect our vision of a self-sustaining, economically vibrant Gweru. We are not just providing services, we are building an economy,” he said.
Gweru Residents Trust representative Mr Obvious Gonamombe said the proposed 200MW solar project had the potential to be the most significant of the three investments.
He said if successfully implemented, the project could provide the city with a sustainable long-term revenue stream while supporting broader economic development and investment attraction.
