Judith Phiri, [email protected]
INDUSTRY players have called for reliable, competitively priced and predictable energy supplies, saying transparent regulation that supports investment and industrial expansion is more important than simply pursuing cheap electricity and fuel.
Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) National Vice-President, Mr Stephen Ncube, said energy regulation should move beyond licensing, pricing and compliance to become a catalyst for industrial competitiveness, investment and economic growth.
“Industry is not asking for cheap energy at any cost. It is asking for energy that is reliable, competitively priced, predictable, transparently regulated and available in sufficient quantities to support industrial expansion,” he said.
Mr Ncube was speaking during the 2026 Pre-Strategy Review Meeting Workshop – Stakeholder Consultation and Feedback hosted by the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) in Bulawayo on Thursday.
He said the authority’s next strategic plan should prioritise measurable improvements in energy supply, service delivery and pricing transparency to enable businesses to plan investments, increase production and compete effectively in domestic and regional markets.
“The strategic test for Zera is no longer simply whether energy is regulated. It’s whether energy regulation enables Zimbabwean industry to invest, produce and compete,” he said.
Mr Ncube welcomed progress recorded in 2026, particularly electricity supply stability, regulatory engagement, publication of energy prices and continued attention to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) safety.
However, he called for a performance-based regulatory framework that links electricity tariff approvals to measurable obligations by utilities, including supply availability, outage frequency and duration, power quality, fault-response times and the turnaround time for new connections.
He also proposed regulatory-impact assessments for major tariff and rule changes, examining their implications for production costs, regional competitiveness, investment and consumer benefits.
On fuel pricing, Mr Ncube called for a transparent price calculator showing the contribution of international product prices, exchange-rate movements, freight, taxes and levies, blending costs and industry margins.
He said downward movements in underlying costs should be passed on to consumers as promptly as increases, alongside monthly comparisons of Zimbabwean fuel prices with selected Southern African Development Community markets.
Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) Matabeleland regional manager Mr Mduduzi Ncube said the business community recognised progress in creating a more enabling regulatory environment.
He welcomed the publication of fuel price build-ups and maximum prices, consumer education on energy safety, strengthened technical standards and the reduction of petroleum licensing fees under the 2026 amendments.
He also cited the reported reduction of electricity licensing timelines to 90 days or less and the publication of Zera’s 2026–2030 Strategic Plan and 2025 Annual Report as steps towards greater accountability and predictability.
At sector level, Mr Ncube said the commissioning of Hwange Units 7 and 8 had added approximately 600 megawatts to national generation capacity, while solar and other captive-generation projects were broadening options for businesses seeking energy security.
He said the gains needed to translate into lower business uncertainty, with Zera working alongside the Ministry responsible for energy, the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) and other institutions to improve the predictability of tariffs, connections, licensing and power-purchase arrangements.
Investors in electricity generation, including renewable energy, also needed clear application requirements, published fees and decision timelines, alongside transparent procurement processes and bankable power-purchase agreements.
Mr Ncube said the regulatory framework should facilitate lawful investment in self-generation without imposing disproportionate compliance costs on productive businesses.
On fuel costs, he said taxes and levies remained a concern for manufacturers, transport operators and distributors, urging Zera to engage the Ministry of Finance and other relevant authorities on reviewing the cumulative burden.
Mr Ncube said reliable and affordable energy remained essential to manufacturing, mining, agriculture, tourism, services and the wider economy, adding that regular reporting on licensing timelines, consumer complaints, enforcement and strategic-plan implementation would help stakeholders assess progress and identify remaining bottlenecks.
