Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
SADC ministers have called for immediate regional reforms, infrastructure upgrades and stronger cross-border cooperation to address growing energy and water insecurity that threaten to derail the region’s industrialisation and development agenda.
The call was made during the Joint Meeting of SADC Ministers Responsible for Energy and Water held in Harare, where delegates said rising demand, climate change, underinvestment and aging infrastructure were compounding pressure on the region’s already strained energy and water sectors.
Energy and Power Development Minister and Co-Chairperson of the joint meeting, Dr July Moyo said the SADC region was at a tipping point and must urgently respond to its mounting challenges.
“Our region is under immense strain from energy and water insecurity,” he said.
“None of our countries must be left behind. We must act with urgency to protect our economies and ensure access to essential services for our people.”
Minister Moyo said vandalism of electricity infrastructure was contributing to power supply disruptions, costing Zimbabwe an estimated US$4 million annually.
He called for region-wide enforcement of harsher penalties, use of surveillance technologies and increased community awareness to curb the problem.
Zimbabwe, he said, is still grappling with electricity shortfalls, with demand exceeding 2 000 megawatts while generation capacity ranges between 1 200 and 1 600 megawatts.
“Our installed capacity may appear sufficient, but due to aging infrastructure and limited generation availability, we still face severe supply gaps,” said Minister Moyo.
“To close the energy access gap, we are targeting universal access by 2030 through solar expansion and rural electrification.”
The Presidential Rural Development Programme, he added, aims to install 1,2 million solar home systems and power 35 000 villages and 10 000 rural institutions with solar-powered boreholes by 2030.
SADC Executive Secretary Elias Mr Magosi said despite the addition of nearly 2 900 megawatts of new power during the 2024-2025 period, the region still faces a deficit of over 4 500 megawatts.
“This deficit is largely due to drought-induced hydropower shortages, poor plant availability and limited transmission capacity,” he said.
“Let this meeting in Harare be the turning point. We must translate regional ambitions into tangible action and results.”
Mr Magosi also said that only 71 percent of SADC’s population has access to safe drinking water, while just 40 percent have access to adequate sanitation facilities. He said urgent investment was needed in climate-resilient water infrastructure, irrigation systems and transboundary water governance.
Mr Magosi said there was progress on key projects such as the Lesotho Highlands Water Project Phase II, Malawi-Mozambique Interconnector and groundwater initiatives across 13 SADC countries, which are improving access for over 600 000 people in rural areas.
Bringing a continental perspective, Ms Lerato Mataboge, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy at the African Union Commission said efforts to attract private sector investment and integrate African power markets are advancing under the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) and the African Single Energy Market.
“To address energy inequality, we must pursue development strategies that leverage Africa’s own resources and capabilities,” she said.
“We are also finalising the African Energy Solutions Strategy, a smart framework to integrate energy into agriculture, transport, industry and policy.”
Ms Mataboge said the African Union was promoting energy efficiency standards for appliances and lighting to reduce energy demand and welcomed regional projects like the Soma Renovation Project as part of Africa’s innovation-driven energy transformation.
She congratulated the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP) on its 30th anniversary and described it as a cornerstone of regional electricity cooperation.
Ms Mataboge also endorsed the ongoing efforts to operationalise the Regional Infrastructure Financing Facility, which is expected to boost funding for strategic projects.
Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development Minister Dr Anxious Masuka said the energy-water crisis was not just a development issue, but a matter of constitutional and human rights.
“The human rights issue is about water that constitutes 70 percent of our bodies. It is not a human rights issue, it is a fundamental right.
“Access to clean, affordable water and energy must be guaranteed for every citizen. Without it, people cannot be productive and our economies cannot grow,” he said.
Minister Masuka said water availability directly drives economic development by enabling agriculture, industrialisation and urban growth.
Minister Masuka also praised President Mnangagwa’s leadership as current SADC Chair and pledged Zimbabwe’s full support to accelerate regional development.
