VICE-PRESIDENT Constantino Chiwenga has challenged the southern Africa region to harness its natural resources for economic growth at a time when some developed countries are benefiting from them.
The continent is endowed with an abundance of energy-generating natural resources, including vast sunlight for solar power, hydropower potential, minerals reserves, gas deposits and wind energy resources.
Speaking at the Sadc 2026 Sustainable Energy Week, Chiwenga commended organisers for coming up with the event, a hub which gathers energy experts from the region.
The week-long event, which began in Victoria Falls on Monday and ends tomorrow, is running under the theme Driving Regional Economic Growth through Clean Energy Efficiency.
“It is through these collaborative platforms that we can unlock investment opportunities, facilitate transfer of critical skills and drive transformative change for Africa to rise to the occasion of industrialisation to benefit our economies and communities,” he said.
“We cannot remain behind while our God-given resources develop already industrialised nations.”
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Chiwenga highlighted that Africa must not be left out in the Fourth Industrial Revolution while it sits on resources that are being used to develop other economies.
“As the world undergoes the profound energy transition driven by climate commitments and net zero targets and technological advancements, we too must adapt and innovate.
“Globally, we are witnessing a significant shift towards clean energy solutions and enhanced energy efficiency.
“Renewable technologies have achieved cost parity and in many cases, cost superiority over conventional generation.”
Africa’s green economy is projected to generate over 3,3 million direct and indirect jobs.
Chiwenga bemoaned that Africa is only benefiting a fraction from its resources as he called for investment in renewable energy projects.
“The question before us is whether Africa will remain an extraction zone, a raw material supplier or become a value-earning industrial hub in the green energy value chain.
“It is disheartening that despite Africa being endowed with nearly 60% of the world’s best renewable energy resources, including solar, wind, hydro, biomass and fossil fuels, it has only harnessed a small fraction of that potential. Our continent continues to face challenges of power deficits.
“There is a huge investment gap in the energy sector, which continues to hamper our ability to fully utilise our resources for inclusive growth.”
This comes after Mines and Mining Development minister Polite Kambamura yesterday banned the exportation of lithium, a strategic mineral that it used in the manufacturing of rechargeable batteries.
Sadc executive secretary Elias Magosi called for increased investment in renewable energy within the region.
“Our region continues to face power shortages due to inadequate infrastructure such as limited transmission capacity and the intensifying effects of climate change,” Magosi said.
“While progress is clearly evident, we must continue to scale up investment, deepen regional co-operation and accelerate implementation to ensure that no member State is left behind in our collective journey towards a resilient and energy secure society.”
The Sustainable Energy Week is organised by the Southern African Development Community Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency and it brings together policymakers, energy experts, industry leaders, financiers, academics and other stakeholders from across the region.
According to the organisers, Eswatini will host the next Sadc Sustainable Energy Week in 2027, as part of efforts to rotate the conference among member States and deepen regional engagement on sustainable energy issues.