By Thabisani Dube

As the sun dips below the horizon, homes across rural Zimbabwe suddenly spring to life, illuminated by the glow of solar-powered outdoor lights.
In Dete Village in Hwange district in Matabeleland North Province, Faniso Nyoni watches as her three children gather around a brightly lit table, their faces aglow from the solar lamps as they study late into the evening. “Solar power has brightened our nights,” says the 45-year-old mother. “My children can study even after sunset, and I can cook and do chores without straining my eyes.”

This shift from kerosene lamps and candles to clean, reliable solar energy not only provides better lighting but also reduces the risk of fires caused by challenges with traditional lighting methods.

The transformation unfolding in Dete is mirrored across many rural communities in Zimbabwe, where local leaders are witnessing the profound impact of solar energy. “Solar has transformed daily life here in ways I never thought possible,” says headman Sibusisiwe Ncube, also from Dete. “It has brought such progress and opportunity to our community.”

Zimbabwe enjoys 3,000 hours of sunshine per year. Coupled with a more than 80 percent mobile penetration rate, high use of mobile payment platforms and a highly literate population, a huge opportunity for solar product sales presents itself. The solar water heating programme has the potential of saving 300MW from retrofitting existing electric geysers.

Yet, only 21 percent of rural households have access to electricity, compared to 80 percent in urban areas, as reported by the African Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF). In these rural areas, households predominantly rely on expensive and unsustainable products like kerosene and firewood for energy, posing financial and health risks.

Solar energy is revolutionising the academic landscape in these communities. With solar-powered lighting, students can study well into the evening, vastly improving their performance and opening new educational opportunities.

Access to solar energy is also catalysing economic development, transforming rural areas into livelier and more attractive places to live. Many residents have invested in solar kits that include essential items such as lighting equipment, solar panels, batteries, and even radio or TV sets. While a basic start-up solar kit costs around 90 U.S. dollars, the returns in terms of improved quality of life are priceless.

The benefits of solar energy extend beyond basic lighting needs. Solar power has enabled the installation of refrigeration systems, revolutionising the way villagers store food and run businesses. Cabangani Ngwenya, a 43-year-old grocery store owner in Dete, shares how solar-powered refrigerators have thrust his business into greater success.

“We used to lose a lot of food due to spoilage as a result of lack of refrigeration,” she says. “Now, I have customers coming through to buy cold beverages and meat—products I started stocking after getting solar refrigerators.”

Healthcare is also benefiting from solar energy. Clinics and health centres can now store vaccines and medicines that require refrigeration, vastly improving medical services in rural areas. Moreover, solar power ensures these facilities can operate even during power outages, providing uninterrupted healthcare services.

“Solar has transformed healthcare in this community. We can now keep vaccines and medicines refrigerated, run medical equipment, and provide uninterrupted treatment – even during power outages,” said Tedious Masauso a nurse in Mugarakamwe in Guruve, Mashonaland Central province.

Economically, solar energy empowers individuals like John Banda, a 21-year-old small-scale farmer from Nkayi district, in Matabeleland North. With a solar kit, he can now charge his phone and maintain reliable communication, allowing him to seize opportunities to market and sell his farm produce effectively.

Trade and commerce are experiencing a renaissance fueled by solar energy. It has boosted the establishment of small enterprises, such as local welding shops, thus providing employment and fostering economic development.

Leaders in the renewable energy sector are enthusiastic about the positive changes. “Apart from bringing convenience to daily living, going solar significantly cuts down on ZESA bill costs by as much as 50 percent in some cases,” says Nyasha Chasakara, CEO of Solarpro Zimbabwe.

This reduction in energy costs significantly relieves financial pressure on families, allowing them to channel savings into other essential needs. In education, solar installations are facilitating new opportunities.

“In education, we installed some solar systems for a Norton-based rural school, which immediately allowed the school to have an internet connection benefiting students and teachers. The school now has running water thanks to a solar system which also powers the borehole,” explains Chasakara.

Chasakara said that solar systems enhance educational facilities by providing reliable energy, thereby improving students’ learning conditions and expanding access to resources. However, the transition from traditional energy sources is not without challenges.

“Most schools still rely on generators but our rent-to-buy programme is weaning them off the expensive and dirty source of energy. The upfront cost of solar can be a deterrent. This programme makes solar energy accessible by allowing users to pay over time, removing the financial barriers that often hinder the adoption of cleaner technologies. Solar installations are happening across the country.

Solar energy is not only a beacon of light but also a beacon of hope and progress for rural Zimbabwe. By illuminating homes, fostering education, improving healthcare, and driving economic development, it is transforming the landscape of rural life, paving the way for a brighter, more sustainable future.

Zimbabwe’s economy is predominately agro-based and with the bulk of the population living off the land, solar irrigation is critical to mitigating climate change and reduction of greenhouse emissions.

The potential of renewable energy sources such as solar energy needs to be fully realised in the country. Improved use of renewable sources of energy and the local manufacturing of energy technologies by the private sector in Zimbabwe has the potential to create many green jobs and reduce poverty.

Investing in renewable energy technologies is a promising option for combining the multiple goals of climate change mitigation, a low-carbon economy, and employment creation especially among the youth, thereby taking advantage of the growing number of young people out of work, energy security and sustainable development.