ZIMBABWE Investment and Development Agency (Zida) chief executive officer Tafadzwa Chinamo has called for increased investment in biomass and biogas production, saying the country can unlock carbon credits and climate financing through waste-to-energy projects.
Chinamo made the remarks during the ongoing Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), which began on Monday under the theme Connected Economies, Competitive Industries. He was speaking at the Rural Industrialisation and Economic Empowerment Indaba.
“Agricultural and industrial waste in Zimbabwe offers untapped potential for biomass and biogas energy conversion projects,” he said.
Chinamo said biomass and biogas plants of between 5MW and 10MW can be developed with capital ranging from US$6 million to US$12 million, producing sustainable energy.
“These projects reduce energy costs, displace diesel or grid power, and enable carbon credits and climate financing,” he said.
The push for biomass development underscores Zimbabwe’s shift toward renewable energy and circular economy models to drive industrial growth, rural development and climate financing as power shortages continue to hamper productivity.
Biomass has the potential to generate up to 1 000MW of electricity, based on previous studies.
Biomass energy is produced by converting organic materials such as wood, crops and agricultural waste that store solar energy through photosynthesis.
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Chinamo said Zida supports circular economy investments through feedstock agreements, licensing facilitation and investor engagement to improve economic resilience..
At this year’s ZITF, Zida is prominently featured through the launch of the Zida Value Connect Lounge, a platform designed to turn investor engagement into tangible investment outcomes.
Chinamo also highlighted opportunities in eco-tourism, saying mid-market eco-lodges and adventure tourism projects can generate returns of between 17% and 24% while creating 80 to 150 direct jobs.
He added that Zida is facilitating tourism public-private partnerships, improving access to land and linking investors to opportunities aimed at unlocking rural tourism potential.
However, the Zida boss stressed the need to incentivise rural industrialisation anchored on regional resource endowments and climate condition.
“Set up industries that can be supported by renewable energy, taking advantage of historical sites to drive rural tourism and set up labour-intensive industries to leverage the available human resources,” Chinamo said.
Busisa Moyo, board chairperson of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Company, said this year’s exhibition provides an inclusive platform linking rural enterprises to the mainstream economy.
He said the fair is spotlighting rural-based entities as catalysts for grassroots development, with the government’s devolution policy serving as a foundation for strengthening rural enterprise connectivity and competitiveness.
Moyo added that this year’s edition has attracted 775 exhibitors, including 49 foreign exhibitors from 31 countries such as China, Germany, India, Japan, South Africa and the United Kingdom.
