Harare, (New Ziana) -At least eight out of the sixteen Southern African Development Community (SADC) member states have less than 50 percent access to electricity, highlighting a critical energy shortage across the region, a senior government official has said.
Speaking at the official opening of the five-day Regional Energy Regulators Association of Southern Africa (RERA) sub-committee meetings in the capital on Wednesday, Energy and Power Development Permanent Secretary Gloria Magombo whose speech was read by chief director in the Ministry, Benson Munyaradzi, called for urgent action to address the region’s electricity crisis.
“There is need for us to play a role in ensuring policies and regulations that cater for energy access for all,” she said.
The SADC region, home to more than 400 million people, is grappling with chronic electricity shortages and insufficient investment in generation and transmission infrastructure.
Magombo emphasised the pressing need for grid expansion and more regional interconnectors to enable broader access, pointing out funding constraints and regulatory bottlenecks are holding back progress.
“Complex regulatory frameworks and slow licensing processes hinder the development of renewable energy projects. There is need for streamlined regulations on bulk licensing of portfolios to accelerate the rollout of renewables,” she said.
While the region continues to rely heavily on fossil fuels, particularly coal, Magombo urged a stronger push for renewable energy sources such as solar and wind to not only increase access, but also meet climate goals.
She urged SADC energy regulators to develop harmonised policies and coordinated investment strategies, stressing the importance of regional cooperation in ensuring energy security, sustainability, and cross-border electricity trade.
“The energy sector requires significant investment to meet the region’s energy needs. Development finance institutions must play a central role in supporting the transformation of this critical sector,” she added.
Addressing the same gatheing, Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) acting chief executive officer Ngoni Ranga highlighted the importance of collaborative platforms such as RERA in shaping effective regulatory frameworks.
“As Zimbabwe, we are proud to host these meetings which underscore our commitment to regional cooperation and energy development. Collaboration and teamwork are essential in achieving our common goals. By working together we can share knowledge, expertise and resources,” said Ranga.
With electricity access being a key driver of economic development, education, and healthcare, the outcomes of the RERA meetings are expected to shape regional energy policy and spur coordinated action toward a more connected and electrified Southern Africa.
New Ziana
