Swedish ambassador to Zimbabwe Per Lindgärde has urged the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) member countries to capitalise on energy-efficiency opportunities to unlock economic growth, saying saving power is now as important as generating it.
Speaking at the Sadc 2026 Sustainable Energy Week in Victoria Falls last week, Lindgärde said southern Africa should prioritise efficient energy use to strengthen industry and expand electricity access.
The week-long event, which was organised by the Southern African Development Community Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (Sacreee) brought together policymakers, energy experts, industry leaders, financiers, academics and other stakeholders from across the region.
“For the Sadc region, where energy demand continues to rise alongside the urgent need for reliable and affordable power, every unit of energy saved creates space for growth,” he said.
“It frees capacity for industry, expands access for households, reduces pressure on national grids, and improves the resilience of our economies,”
"Sweden's partnership with the Sadc is grounded in this understanding.
“Together, we work to strengthen regional policy frameworks, build institutional capacity, and promote sustainable and inclusive growth across member states.
“Guided by our commitment to transparency, equality, and long-term impact, we foster collaboration between governments, regional centres of excellence, the private sector, civil society, and international partners.”
Lindgärde stressed that energy efficiency should be treated as a strategic economic tool rather than a technical adjustment as countries grapple with power shortages, ageing infrastructure and climate-related disruptions affecting generation.
As part of their focus in driving energy efficiency Lindgärde said, "Through the longstanding partnership between the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (Unido), Sida, and the Swedish government, we are driving energy efficiency as a cornerstone of Zimbabwe's industrial transformation."
Sweden’s cooperation with Zimbabwe and other regional states focuses on strengthening policy frameworks, building institutional capacity and promoting inclusive growth through sustainable energy initiatives.
Through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), Sweden has supported environmental sustainability, democratic governance and economic development programmes aligned with global frameworks such as the 2030 Agenda and international climate commitments.
Sweden’s regional support, including the Energy Efficiency for Sustainable Livelihood in Africa (EELA) programme, has helped shift markets towards high-performing, low-carbon products while strengthening consumer protection through improved standards and labelling for electrical appliances.