Sikhumbuzo Moyo [email protected]
THE Ministry of Energy and Power Development has urged the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) to prioritise reliable, affordable and sustainable energy delivery, improve consumer protection and streamline regulatory processes in its 2027 strategic plan.
The Ministry said ZERA’s 2026 pre-strategy review, stakeholder consultation and feedback workshop provided an opportunity to identify operational and service delivery gaps and ensure that the regulator’s priorities align with the country’s development goals.
Presenting the Ministry’s expectations at the workshop, Permanent Secretary Dr Gloria Magombo, who was represented by Bulawayo provincial head Mr Robert Rukuni, said the consultations should provide a platform for residents, farmers, industrial leaders, commercial enterprises, municipal authorities and the media to offer practical and constructive feedback.
“The Ministry of Energy and Power Development views these pre-strategy workshops not as routine administrative exercises, but as the bedrock of responsive regulatory governance. The energy sector moves faster, more coherently, and with greater impact toward achieving Vision 2030,” said Dr Magombo.
She said the energy sector remained central to economic transformation as the country pursued the goals of the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).
“ZERA’s upcoming strategic plan must directly reflect the core pillars of NDS2: sustainable economic growth, social equity, and environmental stewardship. The policy direction set by the Ministry requires regulatory frameworks that do not merely oversee the sector, but actively unlock capacity across agriculture, mining, manufacturing, and domestic livelihoods,” she said.
Dr Magombo said the Ministry expected the views gathered during the consultations to shape ZERA’s strategic priorities and improve operational delivery.
She said the effectiveness of regulation should be measured by consumers’ experiences, adding that feedback from residents, farmers and business owners should inform practical regulatory standards.
“In 2027 and beyond, ZERA must enforce reliable, safe, affordable, and sustainable energy delivery. Protecting consumers from service disruptions, unfair pricing, and poor service quality must be central to ZERA’s 2027 strategic agenda,” said Dr Magombo.
She said the Ministry also expected ZERA to maintain a transparent and predictable regulatory environment that encourages local and foreign direct investment.
Dr Magombo said streamlining licensing processes, reducing administrative bottlenecks and establishing clear compliance procedures were critical to increasing private sector participation and supporting growth in the energy sector.
