The month of February was not just a calender, it was boldly declared as a season of action and everybody was given a task to implement and provide milestones at each quarter of the year. Allow me to congratulate the government for hosting the Sadc Sustainable Energy Week, which was a world class event.
The Sadc Sustainable Energy Week, which was officially opened by the Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga on behalf of President Emmerson Mnangagwa. I decided not to dilute his speech for the benefit of everyone across-the-board.
“It is my profound honour and privilege to officially open the 2026 edition of the Southern African Development Committee Sustainable Energy Week on behalf of the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, His Excellence Dr. Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangangwa. I welcome you to the majestic city of Victoria Falls, a symbol of natural power and shared heritage. Ladies and gentlemen, the global city is undergoing structural transformation. Capital flows are shifting and supply chains are being reforced. Strategic and critical minerals are redefining the global geopolitics as we enter the fourth industrial revolution and Africa must not be a spectator to this transition.”
These words were not just a presentation, but an alarm to action. I have found that this platform convenes policymakers, energy experts, academia, financiers, industry leaders, key stakeholders from across our region and beyond. He clearly emphasised that the region is ready to move from dialogue to deliver. Zimbabwe deeply values the initiatives led by Sadc in promoting sustainable energy development, regional collaboration, capacity building and knowledge sharing. The Vice-President also took the opportunity to commend the Southern African Development Committee Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (SACREE) for its continued leadership in fostering regional cooperation and innovation.
Efforts to address challenges
These efforts are vital in addressing the challenges facing our regional energy sector, which is an enabler in economic growth. It is also 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.
Therefore, we cannot remain behind while our God-given resources develop other already industrialised nations. The theme, driving regional economy growth through clean energy and energy efficiency, speaks directly to our growth imperative. It is critically so, as the world undergoes to profound energy transition, bring economic commitments and net-zero targets and technological advances. We too must adapt and innovate.
Globally, we are witnessing a significant shift toward clean energy solutions and an enhanced energy efficiency.
Costs and affordability
Renewable technologies have achieved cost parity and in many cases cost priorities over conventional generations. The cost of solar PV technologies has declined over 80% in the past decade, The reduction of these costs has also created millions of green jobs worldwide, and Africa is emerging as a key beneficiary.
SDG 7 targets
By 2030, Africa's green economy is projected to generate over three million new direct and indirect jobs particularly in solar energy. Spanning from manufacturing, installations, operations, maintenance to innovation. Zimbabwe is already benefitting from this green wave, creating numerous jobs in renewable energy and integrated industries.
This demonstrates our commitment to sustainable growth and inclusive economic development. For the data, it is disheartening that despite Africa being involved 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 this potential.
As I continue to qoute the Vice President's speech, I still believe that Africa can do much better if it decides to recalibrate its mindset.
Power shortages and its solutions
Our continent continues to face challenges of power deficit. There is a huge investment gap in the energy sector which continues to humble our ability to fully utilise our resources for inclusive growth.
As developed nations have moved along carbon intensive factories, Africa seeks support to live from directly to clean, modern and sustainable energy systems, in line with our commitments under the Paris Agreement.
We must embrace all external sources, all knowledge, and unite in our efforts to position Africa as a global leader in sustainable energy development. So, the question before us is" whether Africa will remain an extraction zone?a raw material supplier, or become a value-adding industrial hub in the clean energy value chain.
Achievements in SDG7
In that regard, the Vice-President Chiwenga highlighted the recent signing of the memorandum of agreement on nuclear energy to promote the fiscal application of nuclear science and technology to advance Africa's social economic development by the African Union, the African Commission on Nuclear Energy and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Nuclear Energy Admin.
These present the strategic opportunities for southern Africa to build regulatory competence, human capital, value chains, and regional collaboration frameworks to leverage peaceful nuclear technologies responsibly and strategically in support of Africa's energy transition and industrialisation agenda. At the regional level, Sadc with over 340 million people and the combined GDP exceeding US$720 billion remains energy constrained.
The power deficit which Sadc is experiencing should be eliminated before 2030. Lack of engine infrastructure such as transmission lines.The region's strategic initiatives such as the renewable energy strategy and action plan, the energy efficient strategy and the Southern African Power Pool are crucial in addressing these standards.
These frameworks must now transition from strategy documents to implementation pipelines in increasing renewable energy shares, reduce energy intensity, facilitate cost-border trade and improve system resilience. Zimbabwe's energy landscape reflects both challenges and opportunities.
Energy access rate
Currently, our energy access rate stands at approximately 62%, with rural slightly above 30%. We recognise the need to increase our access rates. Therefore, under National Development Strategy 2, as we pursue universal access by 2030, we are liberalising generations to attract independent power producers, enabling direct power purchase agreements, expanding private sector participation in transmission and distribution. Accelerating rural electrification targeting universal coverage of schools, clinics and mobilising domestic capital through structured engagement with local financial institutions.
Innovation as a catalyst to boost energy security
Furthermore, our abundant resources of significant coal deposits, lithium, platinum and massive water bodies like the Zambezi River, together with solar and wind energy offer immense opportunities. Projects like Zimbabwe's Waste to Energy initiatives in Harare exemplify innovative solutions for developing clean cities and generating power.
Roadmap towards decentralisation
The centralised renewable systems, including many grids, are crucial for rural transformation and economic empowerment. In addition, we are advancing strategic regional cooperation in hydro projects such as Batoka project with a massive generation output of 2.4GW Further, we fully support the ongoing projects in Mozambique and the Inga Dem Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo.