PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday commissioned the Glovers Solar Plant in Munyati, Kwekwe, a project expected to strengthen Zimbabwe’s electricity generation capacity, improve power supply for industry and reduce reliance on imported power.
The project was funded 51% by the Public Service Commission’s pension fund.
Phase One of the plant has a generation capacity of 10 megawatts, with plans to scale up to more than 110MW at full capacity. It is expected to generate about 20 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually.
The facility is equipped with more than 18 000 solar panels, supported by over 30 inverters and two smart transformers.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Mnangagwa said the project formed part of broader efforts to diversify the country’s energy mix and build resilience against climate change and related energy challenges.
“This initiative is part of ongoing efforts to diversify the national energy mix and build resilience against climate change and associated energy challenges,” he said.
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“Further, projects of this nature are of critical importance with regards to modernisation, industrialisation, increased agricultural productivity and, of course, the development of rural industrial systems.”
Mnangagwa said the establishment of the power generation facility reflected growing investor confidence in the country’s economic reform agenda.
“The project is historic, being among the first implemented under the Government Project Support Agreement framework. This is a mechanism which creates a conducive and bankable investment environment for renewable energy development and infrastructure financing,” he said.
“It is intended to provide comfort to investors through measures that guarantee cost-effective tariffs, guaranteed uptake of generated power, and the offshore repatriation of dividends. Such innovations are designed to position Zimbabwe as a competitive and attractive destination for long-term infrastructure investment.”
He commended plans to expand the initiative into a 100MW solar power plant.
Mnangagwa also warned against vandalism and corruption linked to strategic national investments.
“We must protect our assets. A solar panel stolen today means a job lost tomorrow. Guard this project like you guard your own homes,” he said.
He added that anyone who steals capital, vandalises infrastructure or demands bribes from investors is “an enemy of government”.
Public Service Commission chairperson Vincent Hungwe said the solar farm was undergoing a comprehensive actuarial evaluation of its assets and liabilities to strengthen investment decisions.
“This process will sharpen our investment posture, ensuring that decisions remain prudent, sustainable and responsive to emerging realities in the country,” he said.
“We have also deliberately positioned the fund as a credible and trusted investment partner and, in this regard, we extend an open invitation to like-minded investors to collaborate with us in scaling impactful investments that secure pensions while building the productive capacity of our nation.”
Hungwe said the project had created jobs, stimulated local enterprise and contributed to the socio-economic development of surrounding communities.
“It is, in every sense, a model of inclusive development,” he said.