Online Reporter
Nqobile Bhebhe, Zimpapers Business Hub
Zimbabwe’s energy sector continues to draw strategic investments from the private sector, with Palm Hospitality Group (Private) Limited becoming the latest player to move towards energy self-sufficiency through renewable power generation.
The Palm Hospitality Group represents leading hotel properties, Ilala Lodge Hotel and the Palm River Hotel.
In a notice published by the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA), the public was informed that:
“Notice is hereby issued in terms of section 4(3) of the Electricity (Licensing) Regulations, 2008 published in Statutory Instrument 103 of 2008 that the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) has received an application from Palm Hospitality Group (Private) Limited to construct, own, operate and maintain a 240kW solar photovoltaic plant at stand 1403 Parkway Drive in Victoria Falls, Matabeleland North Province.”
The proposed plant is designed for exclusive on-site use and will not supply power to the national grid.
“All the power generated by Palm Hospitality Group (Private) Limited from the proposed solar plant will be for own consumption and the project will not be connected to the grid. The licence application by Palm Hospitality Group (Private) Limited was done in terms of the provisions of Sections 42 and 46 of the Electricity Act (Chapter 13: 19).”
This move is part of a growing trend in Zimbabwe where businesses are turning to renewable energy sources to reduce operational disruptions caused by electricity shortages.
While Palm Hospitality’s project is not intended to feed into the national grid, it however contributes significantly to the broader national goal of energy self-reliance.
The initiative also reflects the key role Independent Power Producers (IPPs) are playing in strengthening the country’s energy security.
By investing in their own power generation, companies such as Palm Hospitality ease the burden on the Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC), freeing up scarce energy resources for other users.
As Zimbabwe continues its push towards Vision 2030, expanding clean energy through IPPs has become central to industrial growth and climate resilience.
Initiatives such as Palm Hospitality’s solar plant demonstrate how private sector leadership in green energy can contribute meaningfully to national development.
Energy experts stress that while large grid-connected projects remain vital, decentralised renewable systems offer immediate solutions to power challenges, especially in high-value areas such as Victoria Falls—one of Zimbabwe’s top tourist destinations.
Recently, educational institutions have been applying for and being granted power generation licenses.
