SADC’s power crisis a ‘lucrative opportunity’ for home-grown solutions

THE Southern African Development Community (SADC)’s energy challenges should be viewed as a multi-billion-dollar investment gateway, with the private sector urged to capitalise on the region’s vast resources in both power generation and mineral beneficiation.

This was said by Vice-President Kembo Mohadi while officiating at the inaugural SADC Sustainable Energy Week golf tournament awards ceremony at a local hotel in Victoria Falls on Friday evening.

He said while aging infrastructure and power deficits continue to hamper industrial growth, they simultaneously present a unique opening for business in power generation, transmission and distribution.

“Across the region, power deficits, ageing electricity infrastructure and high energy costs continue to constrain productivity, industrial growth and investment attractiveness. This presents an opportunity for business in power generation, transmission and distribution,” Vice-President Mohadi told a gathering that included policymakers, energy experts, financiers and industry leaders who had spent the day networking on the golf course.

He said the region’s geological fortune, combined with its energy needs, creates a perfect storm for value addition.

“It also presents a lucrative opportunity in energy, mineral value addition and beneficiation because the region is endowed with abundant energy resources as well as critical minerals such as lithium and cobalt,” he said.

This comes as Zimbabwe hosted the second edition of the SADC Sustainable Energy Week, underscoring the nation’s commitment to spearheading regional energy security.

He reiterated that reliance on external solutions is no longer viable, calling for homegrown strategies to power the region’s future.

“As a region, we want home-grown solutions to fulfil our needs. The Government of Zimbabwe remains committed to regional energy supply and security initiatives, as demonstrated by accepting to host the second edition of the SADC Sustainable Energy Week, which we are witnessing right now,” he said.

untry towards universal energy access while simultaneously catalysing rural industrialisation and improving livelihoods.

“Here in Zimbabwe we are actually moving towards universal access through the renewable energy where we are constructing the community solar mini-grids, institutional solar micro-grids and also extending grids,” she said.

“I am sure we all agree that productive use of energy is about sustainability of these electrification programmes.”

Mrs Makumbinde said the most effective and productive solutions are those that create a virtuous cycle of energy use, income-generation and sustainability.

Chief among these has been the adoption of solar-powered irrigation systems, which are revolutionising agriculture.

“This has become one of the most effective and productive use of energy here in Zimbabwe where the small scale farmers are empowered or are enabled to grow crops all year round without depending or relying on rain-fed seasons,” she said.

The REF boss further cited successful community schemes such as Hakwata, Mashawa and Bemba as prime examples where solar irrigation is providing food security and commercial viability.

She said grid-electrified schemes like the Romsley irrigation project in Makoni District, Manicaland Province, which now puts over 50 hectares under irrigation, are empowering farmers to cultivate commercial crops continuously.

“When they get inflows, it means they have the capacity now to pay for the electricity that is being used, hence the sustainability of the solar plants,” said Mrs Makumbinde.

“It also impacts on the livelihoods because disposable incomes improve of all those involved in those irrigated farming schemes.”

However, the vision extends beyond agriculture. Mrs Makumbinde highlighted that the drive towards an upper-middle-income society by 2030 is being fuelled by rural industrialisation, powered by electricity.

This is being achieved through innovative models like Village Business Units and School Business Units.

“Once we electrify an area, villagers will then get to pool resources and identify a business venture that they can run with to generate income for themselves, to develop themselves and their areas,” she said.

The impact at local business centres has been immediate and visible. Electrification has enabled the introduction of butcheries, refrigeration for cold beverages and a host of other services.

At the village level, empowered cooperatives are now venturing into welding, carpentry, tailoring and beauty salons.

“The most common businesses that are being undertaken for productive use starts with welding door frames, doors, steel doors, burglar bars. And for their local markets, we all know that these are items that everyone would want to buy,” she said.

Mrs Makumbinde added that tailoring cooperatives are now manufacturing school uniforms for local districts, a boost for both local economies and parents.

She emphasised that for this industrialisation to take root, capacitation is key. Beneficiaries need a mental shift from a mindset of consumption to one of business, followed by vocational skills training and access to capital through revolving funds.

Other highly effective productive uses highlighted include solar-powered cold storage, which empowers farmers with bargaining power by allowing them to store perishable goods like fruits, vegetables and milk until market prices are favourable.

Electric agro-processing mills are also adding significant value at the local level, turning raw groundnuts into packaged peanut butter and cooking oil sold in national supermarkets.

“You will find peanut butter that was made at Nembudziya Growth Point in Midlands Province being sold in Pick n Pay supermarkets. That’s empowerment and that’s coming through productive use of energy,” she said.

The upcoming commissioning of a solar dryer for mopane worms in Gwanda, Matabeleland South, which will add value to local produce, she added.

The tangible results of this energy revolution are visible in the communities themselves.

“You actually see it when you visit a communities, especially the Hakwata that has been mentioned. That life here has changed,” she said.

“Where longer distances are involved for traveling, you see people migrating from bicycles to motorcycles, which is a sign of improved income levels in a community.”

Zimbabwe’s model, as presented by the REF, stands as an example of how targeted energy access, coupled with a focus on productive use, can empower lives, build sustainable infrastructure and drive inclusive economic growth from the grassroots up.