Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata
Herald Correspondent
CHINESE electric vehicle manufacturer Build Your Dreams (BYD) and indigenous firm Tsapo Group have signed a landmark agreement that will see the local assembly of electric vehicles and buses, alongside a skills transfer programme aimed at developing Zimbabwe’s automotive manufacturing capacity.
The agreement, unveiled at the launch of BYD’s new Atto 8 electric vehicle in Harare last week, is also expected to pave the way for the assembly of earth-moving equipment and the development of a nationwide electric vehicle charging network.
Speaking at the launch, Minister of Skills Audit and Development Dr Jenfan Muswere said the partnership was in line with the Second Republic’s engagement and re-engagement policy and will strengthen industrial cooperation between Zimbabwe and China.
“The signing of the agreement between BYD China and Tsapo is also a part of the re-engagement strategy in terms of the economic trust between Zimbabwean-owned institutions and Chinese-owned institutions,” he said.
Minister Muswere said the agreement includes a structured skills transfer programme that will run for between 12 and 24 months.
“So part of what is within the framework also includes a structured skills transfer programme which will run between 12 months to 24 months, commencing with the assembly of buses, then we are moving to the yellow machines, the earth-moving equipment and we also have electrical vehicles,” he said.
Minister Muswere said the initiative dovetails with Government’s thrust to accelerate industrialisation through innovation, value addition and human capital development.
“This also becomes one of the institutions where Zimbabweans are in a position to acquire a lot of knowledge and skills in terms of electrical vehicles, in terms of the automotive industry,” he said.
Minister Muswere said the partnership will also support beneficiation of Zimbabwe’s vast lithium resources and complement Government’s efforts to develop a green economy anchored on renewable energy and sustainable industrial growth.
“As we continue to share skills, knowledge and experience between these two institutions, we are very confident that this framework is going to expand to various sectors of the economy and support the development, the value addition and the beneficiation of lithium,” he said.
Minister Muswere said the long-term vision was for Zimbabwe to graduate from vehicle assembly to becoming an original equipment manufacturer of electric vehicles, buses and heavy-duty machinery.
Tsapo Group chief executive officer Dr Patrick Masocha said the widespread adoption of electric vehicles will depend on the availability of charging infrastructure supported by enabling Government policy.
“In order to really promote the EVs and the smart charging in this country, we must have a policy that helps us to roll out the charging system,” he said.
Dr Masocha proposed that Government consider making it mandatory for all fuel service stations to install electric vehicle charging facilities.
“I would like to adopt a policy where the government would say at every service station, it is mandated that we should have a charging station for EVs. That way it will boost the confidence and it will help in the adoption of the EVs in this country,” he said.
Dr Masocha said Tsapo has already signed memoranda of understanding with CMED, the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority and private electricity suppliers to facilitate the nationwide rollout of charging stations.
“At the moment we have quite a number of agreements and MOUs that we have signed with CMED, with ZERA with private power supply companies so that we can have a roll-out of EV chargers across the nation,” he said.
The partnership is expected to commence with bus assembly before expanding into electric vehicles and construction equipment as Zimbabwe moves to establish a competitive electric mobility industry underpinned by local skills development and value addition.
