ZIMBABWE says its rural electrification drive has quietly become one of the country’s largest infrastructure achievements, with more than 11 000 projects completed and thousands of schools, clinics and rural communities connected to electricity — figures authorities say remain under-recognised on the international stage.
Zimbabwe’s rural electrification programme is spearheaded by the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) under the Energy and Power Development ministry.
The initiative aims to bridge historical urban-rural energy disparities and foster rural industrialisation with approximately 82% of rural public institutions — including primary and secondary schools, clinics and government extension offices — are now connected to electricity.
The programme is backed by the Rural Electrification Fund, which receives support from Treasury, stakeholder levies and development partners like the United Nations Development Programme.
The rollout combines conventional grid electricity extensions and off-grid solutions like solar mini-grids while public institutions receive a 100% capital subsidy for grid or solar connections.
Rural homesteads and group schemes can benefit from a 50% subsidy on connection costs while additionally, Zesa Holdings' on-going electrification projects include smart metering, which helps to manage consumption.
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Beyond lighting, the programme powers local businesses, supports agro-processing and micro-enterprises and helps to secure communities by facilitating the installation of electric fences and bright lights to scare away wildlife in rural areas.
Speaking during the commissioning of the Majindani Electrification Project in Umguza district, Matabeleland North during the weekend Energy and Power Development minister July Moyo said 11 414 projects and households had been electrified as of June 15, extending electricity access to schools, health facilities, business centres and rural communities.
According to Moyo, the programme connected 3 256 primary schools, 1 647 secondary schools, 1 086 rural health centres, 497 government extension officers’ residences, 311 chiefs’ homesteads and 1 397 business centres, among other projects.
He said the scale of Zimbabwe’s rural electrification programme was often not fully appreciated at international energy forums.
“When we go for international fora and conferences, these figures are not known internationally,” Moyo said, adding that delegates are often surprised by the extent of Zimbabwe’s electrification programme until they visit project sites.
He said Zimbabwe would have an opportunity to demonstrate its rural energy initiatives when it hosts the International Solar Alliance conference in Matabeleland North in August, where ministers and energy officials from across Africa are expected to attend.
The minister said government intended to use the gathering to showcase ongoing rural electrification projects, including grid extensions and renewable energy initiatives.
Beyond expanding electricity access, Moyo said government wanted newly-electrified communities to leverage power for productive economic activities.
He urged schools and communities to establish irrigation schemes with electrified boreholes to strengthen food security, particularly ahead of the anticipated El Niño-induced dry conditions.
Moyo encouraged livestock-owning households in Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South to invest in biogas systems, saying the technology can provide clean cooking energy, while producing electricity for domestic use.
He said while Zimbabwe continued to face electricity supply challenges, government was accelerating the deployment of alternative energy sources through Rural Electrification Agency solar mini-grids in remote communities beyond the national grid.
At Majindani, the Rural Electrification Agency constructed an 8km power line supplying electricity to Majindani Primary School, three business premises and a community borehole, infrastructure the minister said could stimulate agricultural production, small businesses and improved livelihoods in the area.