Harare, (New Ziana) – In a major step towards achieving universal access, the government on Tuesday approved the National Energy Compact, a strategic roadmap designed to ensure affordable, reliable, and sustainable electricity for all citizens by 2030.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Dr Jenfan Muswere said this during the post-Cabinet media briefing on Tuesday.
He said the Energy Compact aligns with the Dar-es-Salaam Declaration of the Africa Heads of State Energy Summit held from 27th to 18th January this year.
Zimbabwe signed the Declaration under the main objective Mission 300 which aims to increase the number of African households accessing electricity by 2030 and requires members to develop and submit Energy Compacts for their respective countries.
The primary goal of the declaration, known as Mission 300, seeks to ensure that 300 million African households gain access to electricity by 2030.
“Zimbabwe has committed to the collective continental goal under Mission 300, and our Energy Compact represents a clear roadmap to power every household in our country with clean, affordable, and reliable energy,” said Dr. Muswere.
Muswere said the Compact is also built around the vision of the country to become an upper middle income society by 2030 as well its National Development Strategies through tackling key obstacles in the energy sector such as outdated infrastructure, insufficient electricity generation, and lack of access in rural communities.
He said the Compact is anchored on five strategic pillars namely Expanding Generation and Infrastructure, Strengthening Regional Integration, Promoting Distributed Renewable Energy and Clean Cooking, Catalysing Private Sector-led Investment and Ensuring the Financial Viability of Utilities
“These pillars are not just technical terms. They translate to building new power plants, upgrading transmission lines, connecting rural homes, and making clean energy alternatives like solar and biogas more accessible to our people,” he said.
The Energy Compact targets the electrification of 3.1 million households and aims to achieve 70 percent clean cooking access by 2030 coming as part of a larger strategy to reduce dependence on traditional fuels like firewood, which contribute to deforestation and health hazards in homes.
To achieve these ambitious goals, the Compact will also implement regulatory reforms to attract private investment through streamlining approval processes for Independent Power Producers (IPPs), introducing regulations for mini-grids, and fostering an environment that encourages innovation and competition in the energy sector.
“The Compact is a call to action for both public and private players. It opens the door for investors, local innovators, and development partners to be part of Zimbabwe’s energy revolution,” said Muswere.
New Ziana
