18/08/2025
Power for Some, Darkness for Others: Why Zimbabwe Needs Equitable Energy Policy Now
Electricity is the lifeblood of modern cities. It powers hospitals, drives local businesses, keeps schools open, and connects communities to the digital world. Yet Zimbabwe’s power distribution tells a story of inequality.
In Harare’s better-serviced neighborhoods, residents endure short outages, sometimes no more than two hours, and most have backup systems like solar panels, inverters, or generators. By contrast, high-density areas and outlying towns suffer 12–14 hours of daily blackouts.
For families already struggling to afford three meals a day, investing in alternative power sources is simply impossible. They are left in the dark - literally and economically.
This is not just an energy crisis; it is a justice crisis.
The government has failed to ensure fair distribution of electricity while shielding inefficiency and corruption. The Gwanda Solar Project remains a glaring example: millions disbursed, no results, no accountability. Projects that could have transformed energy access instead became monuments to failed governance.
If Zimbabwe is serious about building smart, inclusive, and resilient cities, energy distribution cannot remain unequal. Policy must evolve from reactive power rationing to proactive investment and accountability.
What Government Should Do
Adopt Transparent Energy Governance
Publish clear load-shedding schedules and distribution criteria to ensure all communities share the burden fairly.
Establish public dashboards to track progress on energy projects and hold contractors accountable in real time.
Reinvest in Decentralized Energy Solutions
Prioritize solar mini-grids and localized energy hubs in high-density and rural areas.
Channel funds away from failed mega-projects and towards community-level renewable projects that can deliver immediate impact.
Enforce Accountability in Energy Projects
Audit failed initiatives like Gwanda Solar and publicly sanction those responsible.
Mandate performance-based contracts: if projects fail to deliver milestones, funds must be returned.
Support Low-Income Households with Energy Access Programs
Introduce targeted subsidies or financing models for affordable solar kits and basic household power solutions.
Partner with development banks and private sector players to roll out pay-as-you-go solar models in vulnerable communities.
Integrate Energy Planning into the Smart Cities Agenda
Position energy as the backbone of urban resilience: powering water systems, waste management, health, and education.
Use data analytics and smart metering to reduce leakages, monitor demand, and optimize distribution.
The Outcome We Should Aim For
A Zimbabwe where energy is not a privilege, but a right. Where poor communities do not suffer extended blackouts while wealthier suburbs enjoy uninterrupted power. Where government shifts from applauding inefficiency to building accountable, people-centered energy systems.
If electricity access continues to mirror inequality, the dream of smart cities will remain hollow. But with political will, transparency, and smarter policies, Zimbabwe can turn on the lights for everyone.
Pic Credit: The Standard Newspaper
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